Conscious Studio Pottery - Terms & Conditions
Expectations:
Once you have registered to join us and booked sessions, please note that you agree to adhere fully to the policies set out by us and all recognised parties within Conscious Studio Pottery.
These policies and the guidance within them recognise the uniqueness, needs, and circumstances of every individual. Therefore, please share (well in advance of your sessions) any information such as medical conditions, allergies, dietary restrictions, or other accommodations that may impact the enjoyment of your participation in any way! The well-being of our students and ensuring every experience is joyfully positive are of immense importance to us, so we look forward to meeting you, knowing the entirety of this exceptionally creative journey will be the start of something magical for you.
Equality & inclusivity:
At Conscious Studio Pottery, we proudly welcome individuals from all backgrounds, faiths, abilities, ethnicities, and genders. We are also dedicated to creating and maintaining a respectful community where everyone can learn, develop, and thrive in a safe and inclusive environment. As such, we retain a zero-tolerance policy for rudeness, bullying, or any form of abuse toward Students or Staff. Therefore, anyone found violating these principles will be asked to leave permanently.
Please remember that disability is not always visible! Therefore, as a service provider, we adhere to and respect the Equality Act 2010 by providing a readily accessible and inclusivity-aware community.
Should individuals with disabilities, chronic illness, health challenges, non-visible disabilities, etc. wish to discuss reasonable adjustments, please do not hesitate to contact our Founder, Nichola P Selby, directly.
Studio Safety:
While our Studios provide a nurturing space for creativity, crafting Ceramics and Pottery involves numerous inherent hazards that students must be aware of and take personal responsibility for. As such, precautions, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), help reduce the risks associated with elements such as sharp tools, materials, chemicals, and equipment. Therefore, all individuals who participate in the studio do so at their own risk, as Conscious Studio Pottery cannot be held responsible for any injuries caused by misuse of the studio, equipment or materials.
To ensure everyone's well-being, a brief orientation will be provided on your first day, detailing health and safety protocols in full, as your safety is our top priority. So please use the studio responsibly and note that by agreeing to our Policies, you acknowledge hazard awareness, which includes, but is not limited to, the necessity of wearing casual, comfortable old clothing, closed-toe shoes with hair tied back, all jewellery removed, and limiting the valuables brought with you.
As a matter of the highest importance, we also request that you inform us well in advance of booked sessions if you are experiencing the symptoms of any potential or confirmed illness! This is especially true if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or test positive within ten days prior to your start date or at any point during your time with us!
We provide an accessibility and inclusivity-aware community welcoming individuals with disabilities, chronic illnesses, health challenges, non-visible disabilities, and those who are immunosuppressed to our studios. We, therefore, strive to protect us all, so thank you for your cooperation and understanding in this regard :)
Our Studio standard is a kind, respectful, polite, and positive environment which benefits everyone; therefore, negative behaviours are not permissible and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Conscious Studio Pottery reserves the right to suspend or terminate any individual from our Studios and/or Sessions if any of the above points are not fully respected or adhered to! This also applies should an individual be deemed unsafe and a danger to others within any environment.
Class Schedules & Content:
Although unexampled, we reserve the right to modify or alter prearranged booked sessions, such as changing dates, times, tutors, or the curriculum content, without prior notice in the unlikely event of unforeseen circumstances or elements outside our control (e.g., low enrollment or power cuts).
We sincerely appreciate your compassion and understanding regarding such matters, as ultimately, we aim to provide an enriching yet sustainable, creative, and educational environment for all through an adaptive, community-oriented approach that balances the interests of all parties.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you wish to discuss any aspect of this further. As always, we look forward to supporting you and maximising your creative growth within our beautiful community framework.
Payment Policies:
All pottery and ceramic sessions require full payment upon booking to secure your place and confirm your participation.
If making the total payment for your chosen session would be difficult, and a short period of delay or spreading the cost over a specific period would be helpful, please notify us. A non-refundable 25% deposit (of the total price) could be paid on booking to secure your place, and an agreed full repayment schedule or date set at Management's discretion.
Gift Vouchers:
Our digital Gift Vouchers are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash. However, they can be transferred to an alternative session date (on one occasion), at the discretion of management.
All Vouchers are issued with a Twelve-Month validity period to give you and the recipients maximum flexibility when booking.
Please note that if the printed expiry period has lapsed, an extension fee will be incurred. The fee will consist of the original value plus 10% if 3 months have expired or 20% if 6 months have expired. In addition, please ensure that the original voucher is presented so that any applicable transfer options can be considered.
Cancellations:
We completely understand how unpredictable life can be, so although alternative dates or other arrangements cannot be guaranteed, please rest assured that we will do our utmost to accommodate you.
As such, if you cannot attend a session, please provide written notification within four weeks of booking to ensure that a suitable future transfer date can be arranged for you.
Regretfully, if less than two weeks’ notice is provided, we cannot guarantee a transfer date. However, should an urgent situation arise, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do our utmost to find a suitable resolution for everyone.
As an organisation committed to lifelong learning, we also reserve the right to flexibility in cancelling or modifying booked sessions, including dates and times, without prior notice in the unlikely event of emergencies or unavoidable circumstances. Although unparalleled, such changes would ensure that we can provide you with the highest-quality experience possible. Therefore, we appreciate your understanding, and alternative arrangements suitable for all impacted parties will be made if possible.
Exchanges & Refunds Policy:
Should you wish to cancel your sessions and require a full refund within the 14-day cooling-off period after booking, please send your request in writing to pottery@consciousstudio.co.uk within this time, and we will assist you through the cancellation process.
The refund will be processed via your original payment method, whether BACS or Credit/Debit Card, as we do not offer cash refunds. Please note that banks and credit card providers can take some time to process refunds. However, in the unlikely event that more than 15 business days have passed since the refund was approved, please notify us.
If you have made a booking, but the 14-day cooling-off period has passed, Conscious Studio Pottery regrettably cannot issue a refund. This applies to all sessions, including Courses, Experience Days, Taster Sessions, Workshops, Memberships, and Gift Vouchers.
Non-attendance:
We regret to inform you that we are unable to provide partial or full refunds for any booked session, including Courses, Workshops, Experience Days or Studio Membership, if you are unable to attend a session or if you are no longer able to make the agreed-upon dates once the 14-day cooling-off period has lapsed. Therefore, please thoroughly review your chosen session details and our policies as presented at www.consciousstudio.co.uk and within the documents sent when you initially booked.
Please note that should you arrive late to a booked session, we cannot provide the time missed at a later date, nor can a partial refund be given for the missed time. Additionally, if you are unable to attend a booked session for any reason, we regrettably are unable to guarantee to accommodate a similar session swap or provide you with an alternative date outside of your originally paid session schedule.
We hope you can appreciate that all sessions are held with a fixed small number of students and at fixed scheduled times to cover the cost of materials and such, which are purchased well in advance! We also incur other expenses, such as those payable to Tutors or visiting Ceramic Artists leading the sessions. Therefore, please ensure that you are able to attend in full when booking, as mistakes cannot be rectified after the 14-day cooling-off period has expired.
Transparency and putting our Students first are a priority, so please trust that we will endeavour to ensure fair communication and resolution for all in any unusual circumstances requiring program adjustments. Your continued participation is deeply valued; please do not hesitate to contact us directly with any questions or concerns.
Collection of work:
We understand that collecting your beautiful ceramics is exciting and important to you, so we like to make the process as smooth as possible. As such, we will update our Social Media and WhatsApp Group so you can attend in person to collect, and kindly request that you only come during our advertised opening hours. Unfortunately, due to the flexibility provided within our schedule, we cannot accommodate drop-in visits.
Please also bring a suitably strong container and packaging materials to collect and wrap your creations, as we are unable to provide these.
We will happily store your work for two months from the date of the collection notification email sent to you. Please make sure to collect every piece of your work, as we regretfully cannot hold pieces indefinitely or dispose of any unwanted pieces. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Loss, damage & theft:
At Conscious Studio Pottery, we understand the importance of keeping your belongings safe. However, we cannot be held responsible for any loss, damage, or theft caused to work or personal possessions while on the premises.
We are a busy studio with people coming and going throughout the day and into the evenings. Therefore, we ask that you take precautions and accept responsibility for securing your possessions and vehicle while on our premises, as they are left at your own risk. We also recommend that you do not leave any valuables unattended or in your transportation, and ensure that you have sufficient insurance to cover any potential theft or damage.
Please be assured that we are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for everyone. So, if you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. Anyone found to have maliciously damaged work, equipment, or property, or stolen items, will be reported to the Police and dealt with as a criminal matter.
Studio Access & Parking:
Conscious Studio Potery, Pheasant Enterprise Centre, Bobbing, Sittingbourne.
Upon your arrival, we can be found in the first building as you turn into the driveway where there are a number of free parking spaces for you to use, although we ask respectfully that you do not park in front of the gates.
As we reside in a peaceful, intimate residential area, please consider our neighbours and refrain from parking in front of other properties or blocking driveways under any circumstances. Your consideration is greatly appreciated!
Student Memberships:
At Conscious Studio Pottery, we proudly offer a diverse range of Student Memberships tailored to meet your unique artistic needs and creative aspirations! These enriching memberships provide regular weekly Open Studio Access, granting you the freedom to explore, experiment, and create independently while also affording the opportunity to seek guidance and support from our experienced team.
To fully benefit from the depth and breadth of our nurturing studio environment, we kindly request and recommend that those new to the captivating world of pottery complete at least two of our Six-Week Pottery Courses first, as this comprehensive training will equip you with a solid technical foundation and the confidence to fully immerse yourself in the studio's vibrant, creative atmosphere. It will also ensure that you possess the necessary skills and proficiency to work safely and effectively with clay in our Open Access sessions.
If you have completed our transformative Six-Week Pottery Courses or possess prior pottery or ceramics experience from elsewhere, you may also be able to join and benefit from our Memberships, having demonstrated how your mastery of clay readily aligns with our high standards.
For those who have completed a comparable 10-week pottery or ceramics training course elsewhere, you may not need to complete one of our Pottery courses to prove your proficiency. As such, we encourage you to contact us directly so we can assess your experience and determine the best membership option to support your creative journey.
For further details, please explore the Membership options and full Terms and Conditions on our website at www.consciousstudio.co.uk to select the option that best suits your aspirations and enriches your experience with us.
Many Thanks 🙂
Please note that Students should also review and consent to the terms outlined in our other Policies, including signing and returning the Student Contract, which clarifies the standards and expectations required by the Conscious Studio Pottery community.
Ultimately, cultivating an inclusive atmosphere of mutual care, clear communication, and personal responsibility best supports everyone, both creatively and emotionally, as well as physically.
Therefore, kind and respectful conduct is always expected from everyone in our community. Please treat everyone and everything, including the furniture, tools, and staff, with the utmost care and respect.
Please note that you agree to these terms and all policies upon receipt of each document and by making full payment in advance of your booking, as discussed. These documents are also available on our website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions, and we look forward to creating with you soon!
Many Thanks :)