Community Ceramics Program

COMMUNITY CERAMICS PROGRAM


The Art and Art Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University is dedicated to preparing art educators, teacher educators, and leaders in visual arts education. As a part of one of the leading graduate schools of education in the world, TC Ceramics has a long, vibrant history, hosting a wide variety of students and artists with diverse backgrounds.

The Community Ceramics Program and open studio access is structured to accommodate open studio hours, course enrollment numbers, and studio capacity, as determined by the Art & Art Education Program and Teachers College.

 PLEASE NOTE: Matriculating TC Students are ineligible to take courses in the Community Ceramics Program.

General Course Offerings


This picture depicts a man glazing ceramics
Community Ceramics: Wheel Focus

This open-level course focuses on different aspects of hand building, wheel throwing, surface decoration, and ceramic materials.  

A student working in the Ceramics Studio
Community Ceramics: Hand Building Focus

This open-level course focuses on different aspects of hand building, wheel throwing, surface decoration, and ceramic materials.  

This image depicts multiple people in the ceramics studio participating in the process of making ceramic art.
Special Topics: Mold-Making and Slip-Casting

This open-level course will explore alternate ways of working with clay. We will be utilizing traditional materials within the ceramics studio and beyond to challenge the way we think about clay and create with clay. No experience is necessary.

This image depicts a person glazing a ceramics piece.
Special Topics: Ceramic Materials and Glaze

This open-level course will explore alternate ways of working with clay. We will be utilizing traditional materials within the ceramics studio and beyond to challenge the way we think about clay and create with clay. No experience is necessary.

Registration Information and Requirements


The Program Manager (Samantha Clay Reagan) and Academic Secretary (Anna Urrea) in the Art & Art Education Program Office initiate and coordinate registration and payment for ALL Community Ceramics courses. This includes, when applicable, the summer, fall, and spring semesters at TC. The Ceramic Studio Fellow, instructors, and studio monitors do not oversee the registration and payment process. Questions regarding registration and payment can be sent directly to Sam and Anna at ceramics@tc.columbia.edu.

 

Spots remain open for some courses in the Summer 2024 Community Ceramics Program.

If you are interested in registering for the Special Topics classes or joining the waitlist for either Community Ceramics classes,

please email Anna at ceramics@tc.columbia.edu by Friday, May 24

  • Once the online registration form goes live, it is on a first come, first serve basis.
  • Registrants are limited to selecting only ONE hands-on making course (Wheel Focus or Hand Building Focus). Registrants can select to register for both or either of the Special Topics courses. 
  • If you cannot register for a course, we strongly encourage you to sign up for the waitlist, which can also be done using the online registration form.
  • The cost for each course may vary and additional fees may apply. Please check the information above on course costs and associated fees.
  • Instructions for payment submission will be sent after registration ends and once your registration is confirmed.
  • Please note that completing the online registration form does not guarantee you a spot in a Summer 2024 course. You must:
    • (1) Submit your payment to the Art Ed Office and
    • (2) Complete all studio access requirements.

If you fail to complete these items by their deadlines, you will be automatically dropped from the Community Ceramics Program. 

Tuition costs for the Community Ceramics (Hand Building and Wheel Focus) and Special Topics: Mold-Making/Slip-Casting courses covers the following:

  • Nine weeks of class instruction based on course offering
  • One extra week of glazing after class instruction ends
  • Firing at no additional cost
  • Reasonable (and moderate) use of clay and glaze
  • Casting Slip for Mold-Making Course only
  • 50 - 60 hours per week of open studio hours 

Additional fees may apply for usage of specialty ceramic materials. The information above does not apply to students only registered for the Special Topics: Ceramic Materials and Glaze course. 

Please review our studio policies

Instructions for payment submission will be sent after registration ends and once your registration is confirmed. 

Requests for refunds must be made in writing to Sam and Anna at ceramics@tc.columbia.edu. Refund requests must be received one day prior to the first day of class. Refund requests received after the first day of class will not be approved and processed. 

Please carefully review the information below. Once all requirements have been met, students will be granted access to attend classes and open studio hours in the Ceramics Studio. These requirements may shift as deemed necessary by the Art and Art Education Program and Teachers College.

 

TC Entry Requirements

There are currently no requirements students need to complete prior to entering TC. However, all Community Ceramics students are required to comply with TC's COVID-19 policies and procedures for health and safety.

  • All TC Community Ceramics students are strongly encouraged to follow TC’s healthy hygiene practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
  • TC is "Mask Mindful." In essence, this guidance means that masks will become optional on campus for faculty, staff, and students who are vaccinated and boosted. Everyone is expected to follow these guidelines at all times when they are on campus, both inside and outside of the Ceramics Studio.
  • If you feel sick at any point during the semester, DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS. Please remain home until you are feeling well.
  • If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 at any point during the semester, DO NOT COME TO CAMPUS. Seek a rapid or PCR test 3-5 days after symptoms onset. If you test positive, complete the health screening form to report your results. If you test negative, you can return to campus once your symptoms resolve.
  • Once you have been infected with COVID-19, you may continue to test positive even after your infection has cleared. Please read further guidelines about this circumstance.
  • TC strongly recommends community members get a flu shot and an additional COVID-19 booster if you are eligible.

If you test positive for COVID-19 at a future date or are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please email us at ceramics@tc.columbia.edu immediately.

 

Ceramics Studio Entry Requirements

All students will be required to complete and abide by all TC Ceramics Studio requirements.

  • All students working in the Ceramics Studio will be required to complete and acknowledge an online Studio Health, Safety, and Procedures Agreement Form. 
  • All students working in the Ceramics Studio will be required to complete and acknowledge an online Shared Commitments Agreement Form. 
  • In addition to the requirements above, all new students will be required to complete a short, in-person studio orientation with the Ceramic Studio Fellow before or during the first week of classes. 

Links to the agreement forms and information regarding open studio hours will be sent to students after registration closes. 

Temporary visitor IDs will be available for pickup when students come to campus for their first day of class. There is no access to the Ceramics Studio prior to the first day of class. Students must complete all requirements in order to pick up their temporary visitor IDs.

Students must pick up their temporary visitor IDs with a Public Safety Officer at TC's main entrance (located at 525 W 120th St, New York, NY 10027) and present a government-issued ID. 

Community safety and effective communication are core values at the heart of the Teachers College Public Safety Team’s mission. At various times, the College may need to alert the community to incidents or issues of concern, including by sending safety messages. 

A safety resource available to all Community Students is the TC Safe App. Furthermore, Community Students can choose to create a TC Alert account at this link. This emergency notification system provides folks with critical information in various situations, such as active threats on campus, campus closures due to severe weather, missing persons, building evacuations, and other safety-related warnings. Community Students will receive time-sensitive messages in the manner you specify. TC Alert is only initiated for safety-related messaging and is not used to disseminate general campus information. You may opt-out at any time.

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