Frequently Asked Questions

You may be wondering...

How do I get in a class?
Our best advice is to go online several minutes before registration opens. Have your credit card in hand and your information ready. Refresh the event page a couple times and as soon as the button turns green click REGISTER. Then fill out all your information and complete the process without getting up from the computer. If you run into trouble, call us right away at (720) 379-6033.

I'm on the waitlist. When will I know if a spot opens up?
When a spot becomes available we will send you an email from Eventbrite with a link where you can register. You will have a very short window of time, maybe 24 hours, to complete your registration. So, be sure to check your email daily. If you get an email, click on the link and be sure to completely finish the registration process. Typically, no additional waitlist spots will become available after the second week of class.

If I know I'm going to miss a class, can I do a make-up?
The Lab is full with adult and youth classes 7 days a week, 48 weeks a year. (We’re only closed for one maintenance week and around the holidays.) Typically, every class is full, which means there is simply no space for students to make up classes. If we cancel an entire class due to weather or other emergencies, we can not guarantee we will be able to schedule a make-up class. Individuals who miss a class will not be able to make it up.

I can't find my piece. Where could it be?
- If you last saw it on the wet rack downstairs, it is most likely still there but may have been moved to make room for your fellow classmates' work. Ask your instructor to help you search for it during your next class.
- If you put it on the drying rack upstairs, it is probably still there but may have been moved to balance the ware boards. Or, it may have been loaded into a bisque kiln. Ask your instructor or a friend to help you look for it.
- If you left it on the to-be-bisqued roller racks, it is either currently in the electric bisque kilns upstairs or it has been moved to the rack/shelves of bisque-ware. Many bisqued pieces look the same, so this is where it's helpful to have your initials or unique mark on each of your pieces.
- If you glazed it and put it on the ware boards upstairs, check the "oops" cart upstairs to make sure there were no problems with the glaze. If it's not on the cart, your piece is either in the gas kiln outside or on the shelves of finished work outside. Often pieces look smaller after gas firing and glazes can change depending on the unique atmosphere of each firing. So, be patient and hunt well. If you don't find it, check again in a few days.

When will the kiln be unloaded? and/or When is the next firing?
Electric bisque kilns upstairs are unloaded & reloaded on the following days: Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Gas kilns outside are loaded on Tuesday, fired on Wednesday, and unloaded on Sunday.
Please check the white board at the bottom of the stairs for details about the next firing.

My piece missed the last firing. Will it go in next time?
We try our best to move pieces through the system as efficiently as possible and in a timely manner. Each kiln load is a unique 3-D puzzle. We fit as many pieces into each load as we can, but sometimes there are pieces that don't fit or that are left over after the kiln is full. In order to not waste resources, we will wait to fire those remaining pieces until there is enough work to fill the kiln again. You can help by encouraging your friends to finish glazing their pieces!
We typically fire the gas kilns every week and sometimes we fire two kilns at once. At the end of the session there is often a rush of work to be fired and it can take an extra week or two to get everything through the firing process. Please be patient and check the outside shelves regularly. We promise we will not get rid of any left-over work without sending an email announcement first.

I’ve heard clay dust can be dangerous if you breathe it in. How do you keep people safe?
Silicosis is a long-term disease caused by inhaling large amounts of silica dust, usually over many years. Silica is a common mineral found in many types of rock and soil, as well as clay. Silicosis is a concern for professional potters who work with clay full-time over their career. We take special precautions for our staff when they are working with dry materials, such as using a vent-hood and a respirator mask, to reduce their direct exposure to dust particles. For the safety of all staff and students we use routine cleaning procedures to reduce the general amount of dust in the studio: all studio surfaces (wheels, tables, etc.) are wiped down daily and deep-cleaned every other month; the floors are vacuumed with a HEPA filter 3x per week and pressure-washed every other month; filters are changed monthly. We also have air purifiers that run continuously and N95 masks available for anyone who needs one. It is also studio policy that any sanding be done outdoors.

Why are there so many students?
Because this is an amazing place! Alright, in all seriousness, demand for pottery programs is at an all-time high. Many clay centers, both locally and nationally, are full with long waitlists. Like other community studios, we've added as many new programs as we can to meet this demand and serve more people in our community.
We're working hard to maximize the space we have and fill the week with programs, all while providing high-quality classes plus open lab time for our adult students.
We are also working hard to realize our expansion into a second facility. This will help increase our ceramics capacity beyond the firestation and allow us to offer new art forms to everyone in our community eager to make something with their own hands.

Are Studio Arts Boulder and the Pottery Lab the same thing?
Yes! The City of Boulder Pottery Lab is the official name of the building. Studio Arts Boulder is the fabulous team of people who teach classes, process your work, answer questions, help with registration, and provide community art education outside the building through our partner programs.

If students pay class fees, why does Studio Arts Boulder also ask for donations?
Donations are critical for the long-term financial security and sustainability of the organization. They improve resilience for times when enrollment might drop unexpectedly. They also help us provide free and reduced-rate programs to folks who cannot afford to pay fees. In addition to pay-what-you-can classes and scholarships, we also do several free partner programs each week to bring clay experiences to people who need art the most… children and seniors in low-income housing, adults with mild traumatic brain injuries, homeless teens & youth in crisis, survivors of domestic violence, kids at risk of dropping out, and more. We could not serve vulnerable members of our community without generous financial support from our donors.

Why do you save pieces for sales?
The studio has a long history of selling student and staff artwork to the public. Neighbors and collectors come year after year to buy pieces for their own enjoyment or to give as gifts.
We currently have two sales each year:
   - in September at our Fall Pottery Sale held in conjunction with our annual Chili Bowl street party, and
   - in December our Holiday Sale held at prAna Boulder features staff and instructor work.
Student work that is abandoned after each session is then sorted, saved, and sold to raise money for operations and partner programs. You are also invited to donate pieces any time during the year.

I've got other skills besides clay. Can I help somehow?
Absolutely! We are always looking for volunteers to organize events, join our board, serve as teaching assistants, and help us with everything it takes to be a thriving nonprofit. Send an email to volunteer@studioartsboulder.org. Your skills and expertise can definitely be put to good use!