Intro
The ceramic studio hosts artist residents as well as Ceramic Subscribers who use the studio on Thursdays and Fridays as day visitors. The studio is supported by Ceramic Technician, Amy Benzie who works Tuesday – Friday and you can access technician support on these days. Following an induction to the studio by Amy you are able to use it 24/7 while on residency. Separate Process and Equipment inductions are also offered in advance of using them. You will be asked to sign your induction sheets.
Entrance
This studio can be accessed through the step-free entrance via the courtyard, through a large door. This door is heavy and code locked and is not automated but can be set to ‘freedoor’ as required. The doorway is 105cm wide and can accommodate wheelchair access and there is a slight lip. When exiting through this door, there is a push-bar on the inside. The studio can also be accessed via any other door into the main building. The door to the ceramics studio located between the Community Making Space and the main studio measures 115cm wide.
Equipment and Workbenches
The ceramic studio is a spacious room with wide pathways between equipment and workbenches and the furniture is moveable. There are adaptable workbenches with adjustable height, two adaptable pottery wheels that are operated either with hand or foot controls, a foot operated wheel with attached seat and a table top wheel that can be set up on different height benches, as well as a lowered sink.
Glaze Room, Clay Store and Kiln Room
There are small side rooms for glazing and clay storage and a separate kiln room. The glaze room door measures 88cm wide and can be made wider if required, it has two additional small doors that can be opened to accommodate a wheelchair. The kiln room door is 118cm wide and inside the kiln room there is not much space to manoeuvre due to the kiln and pellet burner door.
PPE
Dust masks must be worn in the glaze room and are optional elsewhere in the studio. No open toe shoes should be worn in the studio. Boiler suits and aprons are available to use and are hung in the corridor in the main building just outside the entrance. Please remember to remove aprons and boiler suits before entering kitchen spaces to avoid spreading dust where food is handled.
Process Notes
Multiple processes can be supported in the studio including hand building, throwing and glazing. The weight and strength needed depends on the size of the work, the amount of material used and the process required. The three different wheel options available allows artists to find a height and position that is most comfortable for them during throwing. For hand building, there is a slab-roller and extruder available to save some labour, however, both require some strength to use. The extruder is also quite high up which will be a barrier for some people. Support is available from Amy if there are any processes which require assistance.
Flooring
Smooth concrete
Lighting
Soft natural lighting through the roof windows. Suspended fluorescent strip lights which are softened with shade covers.
Seating
Plastic chairs with backs and no arms and stools.
Sensory Notes
Neutral decor, white walls, two noticeable patterns are the wooden and metal beams on the corrugated metal ceiling which create a geometric pattern and the yellow diagonal line path painted on the grey floor. Strong smelling materials or substances may be used in the studio, masks are available. A loud extractor is used during glaze mixing. The glaze mixing room is small and confined.
Possible Barriers
Some materials used in glazing may cause irritation. Ceramic studios can contain a lot of clay dust, masks are available. The First Aid Kit is kept on top of the brown chest of drawers and aprons and boiler suits are kept on hooks of different heights. Masks are available upon request.
Nearest Accessible Toilet
There is an accessible toilet in the hallway, outside the door that leads to the rest of the SSW main building. To access it, exit through the door to the hallway and it is on the immediate left.
First Aid Kit location
On top of the brown chest of drawers
Wifi and phone signal
Please note that there is no wifi or phone signal coverage in the ceramics studio.
