Sales, Refunds & Payments

• Optional (waitlist only): $75 non-refundable registration fee. Deposits are applied toward tuition.

• Tuition must be paid in full prior to the start of class.

• No processing fee for refunds.

Refund Policy

• Tuition refunds may be requested up to 1 week before the first class.

• Once classes are in session, tuition is non-refundable.

Transfers & Seat Changes

• Tuition/class seats may be transferred before classes begin.

• All class or schedule changes must result in the use of tuition within 6 months of payment.

• If you need to switch into a different class, you must contact the studio before your next scheduled class, or you will be marked absent.

One-Time Courtesy Exchange

LIC offers a ONE-TIME seat exchange after classes have begun for students experiencing special circumstances.

Extraordinary / Medical Circumstances

We understand life happens. For medical, health, or extraordinary emergencies, please call the studio—we will do our best to work with you.

Payments

• Accepted forms: cash, credit, check

• Returned checks incur a $35 fee

• All payments must be submitted before the first class, otherwise the seat is automatically forfeited.

Kids & Teen Classes

Due to high demand and limited instructor availability, all Kids & Teens class sales are final.

Cancellation Policies

Weather Cancellations

Safety is our priority. Weather-related closures will be announced via social media and/or email.

Studio Cancellations

Long Island Clay reserves the right to cancel a class or workshop due to:

• Low enrollment (fewer than 3 students)

• Emergencies or unforeseen incidents

If LIC cancels a class:

• A full refund is issued

• OR students may transfer tuition to another available or future class

For weather or emergency cancellations, LIC will provide rescheduled classes or make-up options.

Registration

Registration is available:

• Preferably by email

• We recommend all prospective students to visit the studio!

Enrollment Priority

• 8-Week Beginner Courses: first come, first served

• Members, Intermediate/Advanced, Rolling Classes: current students receive a 2-week priority period before open registration

Makeup Classes & Absences

8-Week Beginner Course

• Students may take up to 2 makeup classes within the same session.

• Makeups must be completed within the session.

• Makeup availability is dependent on class capacity.

Makeups After Session Ends

If the session ends, students may use equivalent Open Studio hours to make up lost time.
No classes may be made up after the session concludes.

Membership / Intermediate / Advanced / Rolling Classes

• Makeups allowed within 8 weeks of the missed class.

• Please inform LIC if you expect extended absences—memberships can be placed on hold.

Attendance Policies

• Unexplained absences of 2 consecutive weeks result in loss of your seat.

• 4-week signups: 1 makeup class

• 8-week signups: 2 makeup classes (any further absences cannot be made up)

Important for Throwing 1 Students

Please do not miss any of the first 4 weeks—this early instruction is foundational and impacts class pacing.

Student Responsibility

Students must make up missed classes before their package ends (e.g., 8-week session = makeups must be used within 8 weeks).
Extensions may be granted for extenuating circumstances at LIC’s discretion.

Personal Belongings

Long Island Clay is not responsible for loss or damage to personal belongings.
All individuals are responsible for their own items.

General Policies

Photography

LIC may photograph or record students and instructors for promotional use.
If you do not want your photo taken, notify us at registration (waiver provided at signup).

Studio Etiquette

Long Island Clay is an inclusive community space. All students and instructors are expected to uphold respect, kindness, and a collaborative atmosphere.

LIC reserves the right to deny services to anyone whose behavior jeopardizes:

• Public safety

• The learning atmosphere

• The peace and well-being of the community

We are a zero-tolerance studio. Misconduct may result in immediate termination of enrollment or membership.

Clay is a community—we ask everyone to remain mindful of themselves and those around them.

Open Studio Policies

Rates & Eligibility

• Open Studio is $5/hour.

• Exempt from payment:

  • Students enrolled in Throwing 1 courses

  • Members

  • Instructors

• All exempt users must still clock in and out.

• IF YOU FORGET TO SIGN OUT: Automatic 3 hour log in for the day so please don’t forget to sign in!

Hours

• Available during regular studio hours excluding class times.

• Exception: Students may glaze during class times.

• Open Studio is available only to enrolled students, members, and instructors.

Class Priority

Classes in session have priority over space and equipment.
LIC may ask Open Studio users to return at another time if they disrupt a class.

Payment

• Fees may be paid daily or weekly, or charged automatically with a card on file.

• Unpaid hours will be charged to the account by end of business day.

• Monthly billing is available—speak with management.

After-Hours Access

Available only to:

• Premium members

• Pro members

• Individuals with permission from the studio

Requires:

• Management approval

• Training on closing procedures

• Compliance with all lock-up protocols

Improper closing procedures may result in loss of key-holder privileges.

Cleanliness

All users must clean their area following posted checklists.
“Last one out” rules must be followed.

Waivers

All required waivers must be signed before using Open Studio.

Disclaimers

Right to Deny Services

Long Island Clay reserves the right to deny service, revoke studio access, cancel memberships, or terminate class enrollment at any time for violations of studio policies, unsafe conduct, harassment, disruptive behavior, property damage, or any actions that threaten, endanger, or negatively impact staff, students, members, visitors, or the studio community. No refunds will be issued in cases of termination due to policy violations or misconduct.

User Error — When Things Go Wrong

Ceramics involves many variables, and results can never be 100% guaranteed.
Firing outcomes depend on many variables including but not limited to clay body types, climate, drying process, kiln temperature, equipment,
quality of the piece, clay thickness/thinness, glaze application, etc.

Our team always strives for the best possible outcomes, but some factors are out of anyone’s control.

If something goes wrong:

• Please come talk to us

• We will troubleshoot with you

• We will help find the best solution possible

We appreciate your patience, your curiosity, and your trust in the process.

Student Work Policy

Finishing Your Work

All work must be completed by the end of your course, except for glazed pieces awaiting final firing.

If you are not enrolled in another session, you lose Open Studio access 7 days after your course ends.

Students are responsible for:

• Trimming

• Glazing

• Finishing
  …all within their course timeframe.

Uncollected Works

We will hold:

• Glazed pieces for 2 weeks after the final class

• Bisque and glazed ware left 3+ weeks after your last class may be discarded at the studio’s discretion

Production Capacity Disclaimer - ALL SELLERS
Selling Work Produced at Long Island Clay

All students and members who intend to sell work produced at Long Island Clay, whether occasionally or as part of an ongoing business, must notify studio management and arrange a meeting with staff prior to doing so.

Long Island Clay provides access to facilities, equipment, materials, and firing services; however, the studio does not participate in or assume responsibility for the design, construction, functionality, food safety, durability, or overall quality of any work produced within the studio. The artist alone is solely responsible for the quality, safety, and suitability of any work offered for sale.

Students and members selling work made at Long Island Clay may be required to sign a Production Artist Agreement and Liability Release acknowledging that the studio is not responsible for the quality, performance, or commercial use of their work.

LIC may deny membership to artists producing work at volumes the studio cannot support.
We are equipped to serve:

• Students

• Small-scale artists and makers

We are not able to support full-line production potters at this time.
Thank you for understanding.

Please be advised that memberships are intended primarily for educational, recreational, and small-scale production purposes. Mid- to high-volume production may require an upgrade to a different membership tier, additional studio fees, or alternative arrangements at the discretion of studio management. Long Island Clay reserves the right to determine whether a member's level of production exceeds the scope of their current membership and to require modifications to their studio access accordingly.

Updated - July 2026
Home Studio & Outside Work Policy

To ensure fairness to all members and students, protect our kilns and equipment, and maintain a consistent firing schedule, we have modified our policy to clarify works made outside of the studio by students and members:

Memberships includes certain privileges, one of which is the ability to create work both at home and in the studio. This benefit reflects the greater flexibility and responsibility that comes with membership.
Students, in turn, receive access to Open Studio as part of their course enrollment, allowing them additional time to continue work begun during class.

Accordingly:

• Members may make work at home provided all clay used was purchased from Long Island Clay. Clay purchased elsewhere or outside clay bodies may not be brought into the studio under any circumstances.

• Students who have access to a pottery wheel at home are welcome to take pieces that were started at Long Island Clay during class or Open Studio home to trim, carve, alter, or complete finishing work before returning them to the studio for firing.

• Students may not bring back work that was started or thrown at home, even if the clay was purchased from Long Island Clay. All student work returned for firing must have originated in the studio during class or Open Studio.

• Long Island Clay reserves the right to refuse any work if the origin of the clay or the work cannot be verified.
  

These policies help ensure that studio resources are used fairly, preserve the value of membership benefits, protect our equipment from unknown materials, and maintain a safe and consistent firing process for everyone in our community. This policy operates on an honor system. We trust our members and students to accurately represent where their work was made and what clay was used. If you are unable to abide by these guidelines, or if we determine that work has been intentionally misrepresented or brought into the studio in violation of this policy, Long Island Clay reserves the right to terminate your enrollment, membership, and/or studio privileges without warning.

Thank you for helping us keep the studio organized and running smoothly.