Open studio FAQ

This is an open studio where you are able to work solo in the space, you are free to come and go at your own pace/leisure.

With bookable time slots you will have time to focus on developing your wheel skills with plenty of all-important practice time.

The studio is different because you can use it as your own space and in your own time. It is a space to enjoy time on the wheel and its positive effects on your wellbeing.

The pricing is taylored to be one of the best value options for wheel time in Edinburgh City.

You do need to have had some prior experience on the wheel to use the open studio. At least an introducuctory course level of experience will be required. 

If you have previously done a course somewhere else, or have used the wheel to a proficient level you are welcome to join the open studio. 

Online one-to-one tuition can be added to your session if you need guidance on some specific skills while using the open studio, . This is enabled through your mobile device over Whatsapp video call or Zoom sessions . The studio has wifi which you can use freely and a mounting point for your device to be easily positioned. Online tuition is booked in advance through the usual route to contact us  >> pricing details can be found > here <

There are options for person tutition with either refresher skills top-up sessions or more complete courses. Whichever you choose, they will be tailored to your needs and enable you comfortable independently use of the studio. 

Courses of all levels are run regularly. Including complete beginner courses, intermediate and advanced for whatever your level.

There are cameras in the space which are there to enable the open access set-up. This is for security of the space, to monitor who is coming and going and including that the space is vacated as agreed and in good order.

Who will be see what the camera sees? This Is just myself. Exactly as if I were in the room myself in a normal open studio. If you have any concerns about this please get in touch to discuss it.

Each session is 2 hours long. You can book more than one back to back if you wish and take advantage of an extra 30 minutes, which would otherwise be used for the changeover between sessions. 

You can email [email protected] to be added to the list of users. From here the calendar of sessions will be shared with you from where you can book sessions. You will need a gmail account to make bookings. (if you don't have one yet they are very easy to set up)  

This ranges from £ - - to £ - - depending on the size of the block you have opted for. The larger the block the better value it is.

TBC

You can go to the shop section of this website and purchase blocks of different sizes. The larger blocks are better value. Link to this section is here if it helps [add link once set up].

If you want to have your work fired each full kiln is charged at £20 TBC. You do not have to have a full kiln worth of pieces to .You can fire anywhere from 1/4 kiln load, through to a full kiln load. So you don't always have to do a large batch. The faster turn around is good to enable you to see your results and respond to them.

Storage space is charged at £3 pw TBC for two good size shelves of usable space. This is where your clay, tools, glazes and pieces will be kept. 

Having pre-booked your session, you arrive 10 minutes before the start time. To check-in please see the user guide which is shared with you through your block purchase (to secure the idea)

To fire your pieces  you can leave them on either the biscuit firing or glaze firing shelving areas. Once complete they will be placed on the pick-up storage section for your collection to continue working on.

Pieces must be marked with your initails to be fired. This can be either with a stamp or marked with stain.  

This depends on the level of demand at the time. But typically we hope to get your pieces through the kiln around two weeks of them being placed on the firing shelving areas.

It is an electric fired kiln which fires with an oxidised atmosphere.

Firing is charged at £30 per full kiln, so a half load would be £15 as you would expect.

To get an idea of what a full kiln repretnts, the capacity of the kiln is W:41cm x H:34cm.

* TBC - Firings pre-paid credit system  for firing services to enable this process. Can be bought at the same time as session blocks. 

A photo of the studio is taken after every use to check it has been left well. It is important for Covid safety that the space is left well for the next user, so that surfaces can be easily wiped down upon their arrival. 

If the studio is not in good condition when you arrive please email us to give detail of this. 

For those who leave the studio in consistently good condition, you will be creditted a free additional two hour session for each 10 blocks you attend. 

[Details for in user guide instead? >] Tips: Stopping on the wheel early enough for clean up is the best way to leave the space tidy. Leaving time (15 minutes) for wrapping you pieces, washing down tools and equipment, packing things away to your storage area, emptying and cleaning out both water buckets and finally leaving the space in the layout specified images on the wall of the studio.

Please see the User guide for full details on arriving and leaving the studio. 

Below is a list of the esstential you will need to get started. These basic tools will allow you to progress to a high level. 

List > >

A sponge, throwing stick, cut off wire, a trimming tool, a rib, water tub

You might wish to add additional tools to your collection to explore the diffent ways of using them. You will develop your favourites and get to know the ways they work best for you.

The studio format has been designed specifically with safety in mind.  

The space has excellent ventilation from the nearby window. The studio has a minimum of clutter for greatest ease of use, while still having all the equipment to enabling you to work happily. Simply a wheel, a chair, a work surface and two buckets for water. All other equipment or tools will be your own and stored away in your individual storage space. 

The space is cleaned by each user after their session and each new user can wipe down as they enter too. Cleaning products will always be available in the space to use for this reason.

During the widespread lockdown during March and April 2020 the bulding remained open. In the case of any future lockdowns it is envisaged. In the unlikely case that a closure does take effect your pre-paid sessions will be held for you, to resume upon reopenning.  

While you work solo in the studio. 

Online group 

If you wish to there is the ablilty to post photos of your pieces, sharing your progression over the weeks of use  

You will be part of a community of people working the same as you. 

Full risk assessments are updated regularly for the open studio space. The building as a whole has measures in place, details of which can be found here < + link

Add first aid provision to the user guide. See office staff if there is an emergency. 

To avoid anything becoming tangled in the wheel, longer hair must be tied up and any loose items of clothing such as scarves need to be removed. 

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