FAQ

BOOKINGS

How do I use a voucher to book a class?

Please click here to find out how to use your gift voucher.

If I don’t spend the entirety of my gift voucher, can I get a refund/cash?

As standard, we do not offer refunds or cash back for our gift vouchers. To view the full list of gift voucher terms and conditions please click here.

I’ve sent an email and need a response ASAP!

We are run by a very small team of staff and volunteers, and though we strive to get back to everyone as soon as possible, we cannot guarantee a response within a day. Please take a good look at our website to be sure your question cannot be answered there. Please note, we are far more likely to be able to answer questions via email rather than DM’s on any of our social media.

Can we book one ticket for two people if we only want to make one thing?

Our class numbers are decided based on the tutors comfort and ability to support every person there, and so we ask that only one participant comes along per booking.

Can I book a ticket for my child?

Yes! Parent attendance is necessary for those under 16. The tutor is there to give equal support to the whole class, and so we ask parents to be conscious of their children’s abilities and help encourage them along should they need it. You know your child the best, and so if you have any questions to see if a specific class is right for you and your family before booking, please get in touch.

I can no longer attend my class – can I cancel?

Please click here to view our Cancellation, Rescheduling & No Show Policy.

WORK COLLECTION 

How long will my work take to be finished and fired?

We will email you when your work is ready to collect. Your wait can vary depending on how busy the studio has been, but between 2-4 weeks is an average wait time. This is sometimes longer during festive periods. Please note, if you do not collect your work within two months of the date you are emailed and don’t get in touch with us to arrange an alternative, we do not have the storage space to keep your items indefinitely. 

When can I pick up my work?

We share our work collection times on our instagram for the upcoming week. Please note, our work collection times vary from week to week. We primarily rely on volunteers to open our space, which means opening times will vary depending on their schedules.

What should I bring to take my work home in?

Please bring along any packaging (newspaper, bubble wrap, tissue paper…etc) you need to keep your work safe on the trip home, as well as a box or bag that can fit all of your work.

I need my work fired by a certain date – can you guarantee this?
We aim to do one bisque and one glaze firing each week. However, large quantities of work, or work that is larger in size or shape, may take longer than our standard two weeks to fire. We ask that you keep this in mind when working to deadlines – we’ll do our best to accommodate you should you need work by a certain date, however we can’t always guarantee this with our small studio space.

My item didn’t come out how I expected!

All ceramic processes are notoriously unpredictable, and glazing can change dramatically in the firing process. Often this leads to unexpected results and happy accidents, but sometimes not-so-happy accidents. Occasionally, items can break or even explode in the kiln. This is often due to the clay not being assembled securely, air bubbles in the clay and/or the clay not being fully dry before firing. Even the most experienced ceramicists can experience these issues every now and then. In the case that your item is damaged during firing, we will be in touch.

CLASSES

I’m running late for a class! What should I do?

Please click here to view our Cancellation, Rescheduling & No Show Policy.

What should I do when I arrive?

Access to the building is from the front door on the south side of the building – Please arrive at the time that your session begins at, as this is when your tutor will come downstairs to greet you. If you arrive before the tutor arrives, please buzz 216 at the intercom. If you’re driving, you can park anywhere on the Dundee Industrial Association premises (around the Wasps building to the north, west west and south). You’ll need to display a permit in your car – these can be collected free of charge from your tutor when they greet you outside the building. There is a 30 minute grace period.

I’m interested in attending a class, but don’t know where to start!

All the details about our upcoming classes can be found here, and we share details of our classes on our Instagram. If you have any specific questions that you can’t find answered on our website, please get in touch via email.

I missed a class I thought sounded interesting – do you run the same class often?

Our classes depend on tutor availability and general interest. There are some staple classes we run regularly – such as mug making, vase building, and wheel throwing – but we do have one off classes! Knowing what people are interested in however is always helpful, so feel free to drop us an email or comment on your favourite classes on our Instagram.

Are the classes messy?

The level of mess can often depend on the participant! In our classes, you are going to be playing with mud, and so there is always a risk of getting a little messy. We do ask that participants help the tutor to tidy up the studio at the end of each class. We have aprons available in our classes for those who would like them. We also recommend you trim your nails before a class, as working with long nails / artificial nails can make things quite difficult. Clay generally cleans well off of clothing, so you don’t need to worry too much about that – but maybe don’t wear your all time favourite jumper!

I’ve booked a hand building session, can I also use the wheels?

Yes, but only if you pay the cost difference between a hand building and combined session, and if the tutor is happy to do so.

What should I bring with me?

We have all the materials and tools needed to take part in a class/session with us! We have aprons, but if you’d rather bring your own please feel free to. We recommend that you wear clothes that you don’t mind potentially getting messy.

DECORATING AND FIRINGS

Is my piece food safe?

At DCW we mostly use food safe glazes that are lead free. However, many factors such as the temperature/clay and if the finished piece has any unpredictable defects (such as pinholing, crazing or crawling) can make a piece not food safe. It is your own responsibility to make sure you use glazes labeled as food safe for dinnerware and to have the pieces appropriately tested at a lab. We can help to identify glaze defects, but not if a piece is food safe.

What glazes can I use at DCW?

We bisque fire to 1000’c and glaze fire to 1200’C, using stoneware clay and glazes. However, you may use your own glazes with specific firing/temperature requirements if you book the full kiln. Here’s a link to a spreadsheet where you can view the materials we have in the workshop.

What type of clay do you use at the workshop?

We use white stoneware and buff stoneware clay for our classes. We use buff type for our clay kits.

How is class work fired?

First it is bisque fired to 1000’c. Then it can be decorated using our range of underglazes and glazes, it is then put into the kiln for a glaze firing at 1200’c.

Do you do single firings/raw glazing?

No. We don’t have any raw glazes and haven’t tested the success of this in our kilns.

How much do firings cost?

Depends on the size of item you have, as prices are calculated based on how many items fit in the kiln. Glaze firing also costs slightly more than Bisque, as it requires a higher temperature for a longer time, thus costing more energy. If you’d like a quote, please get in touch with rough measurements (width x length x height).

What is your kiln size?

Large kiln: 610mm deep x 450mm wide x 705mm tall (internal)

Small kiln: 450mm deep x 470mm diameter (internal)

I don’t want to decorate my piece myself – can I have it glazed by the technicians instead?

Yes, but it has to be fully dipped into a glaze with no special instructions. If you’d like it to be glazed in a particular way please attend a decorating session where you can decorate your pieces however you’d like!

ACCESSIBILITY

What is the accessibility of the building like?

Each floor is accessible by a lift, and there is an accessible toilet on the fourth floor. There are fire doors around the building that don’t have push pads, but a member of staff or volunteer can be on hand to support with this issue. There is generous parking around the building, and we can provide parking passes.

Can I bring along an animal?

We allow guide and support animals in our workshop only. If you require the support of an animal, please get in touch with us beforehand so we can prepare appropriately.

I’m pregnant, can I still do ceramics?

Absolutely! While wheel throwing may be challenging depending on what stage you are in your pregnancy, hand building is a great alternative. If you are pregnant, we advise that you consult with your doctor or midwife before taking part in a class with us.

I’m disabled, can I still do ceramics?

Of course! One of the best ways to find out what suits you is giving a few different ceramic techniques a go! Get in touch with us, as we are always happy to advise and suggest different options that would suit you the best. The tables in our workshop are at a standard wheelchair accessible height. If you’re at all unsure, we advise that you touch base with your doctor before taking part in a class with us.

I’m vulnerable and nervous about being in a class space.

We aim to make DCW a supportive and safe space for everyone. We offer 1-1 sessions for those who are uncomfortable around larger groups of folk. If you would prefer your tutor to wear a mask or any other form of PPE, please email us in advance and we can prepare accordingly. By nature, ceramics teaching involves multiple people making physical contact with the clay being used. If you’re at all unsure, we advise that you touch base with your doctor before taking part in a class with us.

DONATIONS AND SUPPORT

Can I pay a class forward?

If you would like to purchase and gift a class to a stranger as a random act of kindness, please email us and we can arrange this. We have done this before as a give-away through our social media, so the class has been gifted to someone at random who has expressed interest, but we are always open to ideas!

How can I support DCW?

There are many ways you can support our wee workshop! You can send us one off donations through our JustGiving page and our Ko-Fi page. Your donations go a long way .