Programs
Agility and flexibility will be vital to the success of BCS. Products, programs and services will evolve over time, but there will be 4 key areas of focus:
People
BCS will be managed by Heather Hitt, no other full time employee positions are currently planned. Eventually as the studio grows over time, employee positions will be created and filled. However, we are looking for people to fill key non-employee roles.
Instructors: Not all who can do, and do well, can teach and teach well. Teaching is a very different skill set totally different from making. We are looking for skilled instructors who can teach others how to make things from clay. If you think you would be a great teacher and are interested in applying for instructing either workshops or ongoing classes, please email your artist resume to heather@BurnishClayStudio.com.
Studio Work Exchange: A 2-tiered work exchange program is offered on a limited basis for those already familiar with ceramics who want more hands-on experience on the running of a studio. A set number of hours per week of work in the studio in exchange for a free or discounted membership will be available. Work will include cleaning, glaze mixing and monitoring, cleaning, kiln loading/unloading, cleaning, recycling clay reclaim, and monitoring open studio times to answer questions and to ensure everyone else is cleaning too. This program will evolve slowly over time as the studio grows - finding the balance between having the help we need while ensuring there are sufficient paying members and students to support the studio.
We currently have a waiting list, and are adding names and dates of contact. We will contact people to offer a work exchange in the order in which they were added to the list by date. Please email heather@BurnishClayStudio.com to be added to the list.
Feedback
We are continuing to refine the programs that are offered at Burnish.. In order to ensure the studio meets the needs of the community, we are gathering feedback through a series of short surveys.
Agility and flexibility will be vital to the success of BCS. Products, programs and services will evolve over time, but there will be 4 key areas of focus:
- Classes: Adult and children's classes will be offered on an ongoing cycle and will remain one of the bedrocks of the studio. Providing open studio practice time with the adult classes will enable students to grow their skills more quickly.
- Memberships: Adults with previous ceramics experience may apply to have access to the studio and studio equipment on an ongoing basis during operating hours. New members may be asked to take at least one class at BCS to ensure the member is a good fit for the studio.
- Workshops: A variety of workshops will be offered.
- Clay Play Workshops (single 2-4 hour sessions) geared towards specific topics. These will include everything from Clay Play for novices to advanced skills boot-camps for refining specific techniques, like pulling handles or getting a dripless spout.
- Weekend Workshops with 2 full days of instruction from a guest artist. Some will be Demonstration only, others will be a more intimate, hands on experience. Is there someone specific you want to learn from? Send in their name and we will try to set it up!
- Materials and Services: A small retail area offering tools and materials for sale, including a few different types of clay to start with. This area will be lightly stocked at the beginning while we learn what the demand is. We will not have the space for a full warehouse distribution that the big supply houses down south offer, but we hope to bring in the high impact materials and things that are frequently needed on short notice (cones, kiln wash, oxides, etc.) Access to rent studio equipment and space will also be available - with kilns being the main resource, but open to assisting with other occasional needs like the space and tools to mix glazes, use of slab roller or extruder, etc.
People
BCS will be managed by Heather Hitt, no other full time employee positions are currently planned. Eventually as the studio grows over time, employee positions will be created and filled. However, we are looking for people to fill key non-employee roles.
Instructors: Not all who can do, and do well, can teach and teach well. Teaching is a very different skill set totally different from making. We are looking for skilled instructors who can teach others how to make things from clay. If you think you would be a great teacher and are interested in applying for instructing either workshops or ongoing classes, please email your artist resume to heather@BurnishClayStudio.com.
Studio Work Exchange: A 2-tiered work exchange program is offered on a limited basis for those already familiar with ceramics who want more hands-on experience on the running of a studio. A set number of hours per week of work in the studio in exchange for a free or discounted membership will be available. Work will include cleaning, glaze mixing and monitoring, cleaning, kiln loading/unloading, cleaning, recycling clay reclaim, and monitoring open studio times to answer questions and to ensure everyone else is cleaning too. This program will evolve slowly over time as the studio grows - finding the balance between having the help we need while ensuring there are sufficient paying members and students to support the studio.
We currently have a waiting list, and are adding names and dates of contact. We will contact people to offer a work exchange in the order in which they were added to the list by date. Please email heather@BurnishClayStudio.com to be added to the list.
Feedback
We are continuing to refine the programs that are offered at Burnish.. In order to ensure the studio meets the needs of the community, we are gathering feedback through a series of short surveys.
- Each survey is geared towards a specific type of service.
- Each survey can only be completed once per person
- Feel free to complete surveys for more than one service area.