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Terms and Conditions of Use


Effective Date: October 31, 2022

Introduction

Welcome to the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com (“Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com”) Website (the “Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites.”) Please carefully review the following terms and conditions concerning your use of the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites and any scheduling calendar on our websites.

Copyright

All content and materials are © 2022 Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com All rights reserved.

Trademarks

By accessing and using the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites you accept and agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Use, and any additional terms and conditions set forth on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites. If you do not accept and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions of Use, you should not access or use the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions of Use at any time. You agree that notice on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites shall be sufficient notice of changes. Please check the Terms and Conditions of Use when you use the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites to ensure that you are aware of all terms and changes. Specific terms and conditions may apply to specific content, products, materials, services or information contained on or available through the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites or transactions concluded through this Web Site. Such specific terms may be in addition to these Terms and Conditions of Use. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com reserves the right to terminate or restrict access to the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites for any reason and at its sole discretion.

Acceptance of Terms of Use

Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com is a trademark of Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com. All Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com product or service names, slogans, or logos displayed or referenced on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites are trademarks of Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com. All other company, product, or service names displayed or referenced on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Nothing on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites shall be construed as granting any license or right to use any trademark without the written permission of the trademark owner.

Use of Content

Please review our Privacy Policy, which also governs your use of the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites.

Privacy

Except as otherwise provided, the material published on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites may be reproduced or distributed in unmodified form for personal non-commercial use only. Any other use, including without limitation distribution, reproduction, modification, display or transmission without the prior written consent of Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com is strictly prohibited. All copyright, attribution, and other proprietary notices must be retained on all reproductions. Any material or information submitted to Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com through the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites by you will be treated as non-confidential and non-proprietary, and immediately become the property of Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com, subject to the Privacy Policy. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com may use user-submitted materials as it deems fit, anywhere in the world, without obligation for compensation, and free of any moral rights to the extent permitted by legislation, intellectual property rights and/or other proprietary rights. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com retains the right to verify, edit, modify, moderate, and/or delete any content submitted to the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com Website, including but not limited to comments to news articles and blog postings.

Inappropriate Material

Posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, infringing of intellectual property rights, libelous, obscene, pornographic, or profane material or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law or damage any third party or is otherwise objectionable, is expressly prohibited. In addition to any remedies available at law or in equity, if Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com determines in its sole discretion that you have violated or are likely to violate the foregoing prohibitions, Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com may take any action it deems necessary to cure or prevent the violation, including without limitation, the immediate removal of the related materials from the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites. We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or facially valid court order or subpoena requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting or transmitting materials on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites.

Disclaimer

Care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites. However, Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites.

Your use of this website is at your own risk. All content, material, information, products, and services provided on the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites are provided “as is” and “as available”. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com hereby expressly disclaims any representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, including without limitation warranties of merchantability, fitness for any particular purpose, non-infringement, or as to the operation of the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites or the content. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com does not warrant or make any representations as to the security of the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites. You acknowledge any information sent may be intercepted. Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com does not warrant that the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites or the servers which make the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites available or electronic communications sent by Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com are free from viruses or any other harmful elements.

Limitation of Liability

Under no circumstances shall Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com or any of its affiliates be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, punitive, special, exemplary, or incidental damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business, contract, revenue, data, information or business interruption) resulting from, arising out of or in connection with the use of, or inability to use the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites, even if Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Any action brought against Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com pertaining to or in connection with the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites must be commenced and Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com must be notified in writing within one (1) year after the date the cause of action arose.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com controls the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites from its offices in San Mateo, California, United States of America. These Terms and Conditions of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the state of California without regard to its principles of conflict of laws. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of San Mateo County, California, USA for any claim or cause of action arising out of, or relating to or in connection with these Terms and Conditions of Use or the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites, provided that such exclusivity does not apply to legal actions initiated or brought by Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com.

Refunds

Refunds are not given under any circumstances once an 8 week course of classes has been purchased. Team building and private events or lessons can change/add/cancel up to 48 hours prior to the event with no penalty.

Founding Member

If a founding member needs to end their membership before the year’s end, the balance remaining will be calculated less a 10% service fee.

Missing Classes During an 8 Week Course

We will not be able to make up missed classes due to the teacher student ratio and the support we would like to provide all students in the class. Occasionally an exception can be made, but it will require prior approval because of the nature of keeping class work flowing on schedule.

Cancellation Policy

Class fees are not refundable. Classes are transferable only when transferred prior to the start of the course.

Pandemic Policy

In the case of Covid infection we unfortunately are unable to offer makeup classes or refunds.

Other

These Terms and Conditions of Use, together with the Privacy Policy and any other policies of Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com constitute the entire agreement between you and Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com regarding use of the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites, superseding any prior agreement between you and Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com. The failure of Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms and Conditions of Use shall not constitute a waiver of such provision in that or any other instance. If any provision of these Terms and Conditions of Use or the Privacy Policy is held invalid, the remainder shall continue in full force and effect.

Contact

Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com welcomes your comments, questions, complaints, or suggestions regarding these Terms and Conditions of Use, as well as any feedback or questions regarding any technical problems with the Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com websites. You may contact Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com as follows:

Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com
715 Bermuda Drive
San Mateo, CA 94403
info@TheClayLife.com

Last updated on October 31, 2022

Code of Conduct


Effective Date: October 31, 2022

Clay Life Arts Studio (CLAsS) and TheClayLife.com (TCL) created a code of conduct to communicate expectations to staff, assistants, facility participants, and guests in a clear and tactful manner. We can’t cover every single case of conduct, but we trust you to always use your best judgment. Reach out to the owner, David Paulley, studio manager, or anonymous feedback form if you face any issues or have any questions.

CLAsS/TCL has a mission to engage and build community through clay – one person, one neighborhood, and one experience at a time. Following this line of thinking, the relationships that develop at the CLAsS/TCL are important and to be tended with care. We hope that they are long-term and beneficial for everyone.

Though committed to a progressive approach to disciplinary action, CLAsS/TCL considers certain rule infractions and violations of standards as grounds for immediate termination of employment or participation.

  • PURPOSE OF CODE: 
    The major purpose of this CODE OF CONDUCT is to promote an atmosphere of harmony and understanding at the CLAsS/TCL and events affiliated with these spaces, assuring participants and staff alike that the behavior of all in attendance will be guided by a common set of rules for the mutual benefit of all.
  • CODE OF CONDUCT: 
    To accomplish this purpose, individuals are asked to live by one basic guideline: “The Rights and Privileges of all persons are to be respected and honored at all times.”
  • VIOLATIONS OF CODE: 
    The following are violations of this Code of conduct and are prohibited at community facilities or CLAsS/TCL-sponsored activities:
  1. Conduct that disrupts or obstructs any program or activity that is a part of the overall facility operation.
  2. Failure to comply with lawful directions given by CLAsS/TCL staff acting in the performance of their duties.
  3. The destruction, damage, or theft of community property or the property of others.
  4. Unauthorized access to company property outside of business hours.
  5. Misrepresentations of CLAsS/TCL to a customer, a prospective customer, the general public, or an Employee (including but not limited to in-person exchanges, social media, digital correspondence, etc).
  6. Any action, which in the judgment of staff or owner, constitutes an attempt to inflict, or the actual infliction of, or injury to other participants and/or staff.
  7. Any conduct or expression that in the judgment of owner or staff, serves to intimidate or coerce others. Including shaming of someone’s artistic expression of wheel-thrown, hand-built or sculptural representations of the human form. Any conduct or expression, including profanity that personally attacks a guest, member, staff or owner. 
  8. Any infringement on the rights of other participants or staff granted by Federal, State or Local statute or any other violation of such statutes.
  9. Failure to maintain a level of personal hygiene that is non-offensive in a social environment.
  • ENFORCEMENT: The above Code shall be enforced by CLAsS/TCL staff whose authority shall prevail in all cases. Disciplinary action will be decided in the first instance by the CLAsS/TCL staff responsible for the event or program where the violation occurs. Violators of the Code that are deemed not to constitute an immediate and apparent threat to the safety of others or their property will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to a verbal warning, suspension of the right to participate in some or all of the facility’s activities for a period of time, or permanent expulsion from the facility and/or program, depending upon the severity of the offense and whether the offense is repeated or habitual. Violations of the Code that are deemed to constitute an immediate and apparent threat to the safety of others or their property may result in immediate, temporary or permanent expulsion from the facility and/or the specific activity.

APPEAL OF ANY DECISION: An appeal of any decision may be made to the Owner.


Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Access Statement

As a business, we recognize our essential role in dismantling unjust and inequitable systems within our community. We are committed and dedicated to this lifelong process.

We believe that a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community is a better community. We recognize our position of privilege in an inequitable, racist, and non-inclusive system. Through this lens, we are committed to making measurable and lasting changes that will foster racial equity, encourage diversity, and cultivate a more inclusive community. 

Clay Life Arts Studio & TheClayLife.com stands in solidarity against racism in the clay community and the systemic inequities and injustices that our BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities face. We endeavor to actively use the resources of CLAsS & TCL to facilitate sustainable change and foster a creative community that is safe, inclusive, and equitable.


Drama Free Zone

TheClayLife.com and Clay Life Arts Studio has a zero tolerance policy for drama llama emotions. What is a drama llama emotion? A drama llama emotion is a toxically-charged, emotionally-based, conflict-response to an issue or a person or a problem. We’ve listed a few types of emotionally based drama llama reactions below. For the record, we’ve never met any of these emotional drama llamas and they aren’t based on any known llamas real or living. We’re all human here, imperfectly perfect as we are trying to get back to the garden. Treat everyone with kindness and gratitude until we have it all figured out. Being cruel or spiteful or arrogantly spiteful to the members, potential members, guests, staff or owner has no place here.

Going a step further, negatively complaining about art made in the studio that resembles various aspects of the human anatomy is not allowed. We are body positive here but there is a thin line. Shaming someone for referencing the human form as an art reference in relation to clay in any of its phases is grounds for membership termination. Episode 1, Season 1 of the Great Pottery Throw Down speaks of the sensuality of clay and how various stages of the clay process can mimic parts of the human form. That is okay. It’s an art reference. Crude references or jokes to/about someone pulling a handle is not. Someone making a sculpture of the human form and you don’t like the way they made the figure so you antagonize, ridicule and guilt them into changing it to suit your comfort zone? Unacceptable.

Respect people’s space and check the risque humor at the door and let’s be adults about boundaries. Just. Don’t. Go. There. It isn’t a bar. It’s a lonely world if you’re starved for affection and attention. These days, even jokes poking risque-debasing humor at one’s own self-worth has the potential to be misconstrued even though you may mean well and never ever cause someone harm. In today’s world, devastated by a deadly pandemic, we are all trying to reconnect and interface anew with our fellow travelers in an environment trying to redefine our humanity as best we can. It’s our community clay family. Ask for permission to hug. A tap on a shoulder or an elbow with a fingertip if you’re trying to pass through an area if there isn’t room.

If you have small batch type work and have a small show to do or a small order to fill that’s great! Glad TheClayLife.com can help make that happen for you as long as it’s in your allocated space. We’re rooting for your success always. Plan your work well ahead of time and scheduled deadlines. Sometimes exceptions can be made as long as you’ve communicated your needs in advance and the schedule permits. Work that has priority in the firing process is as follows: Children’s classes; Introductory classes; Bone dry member work; Bone dry member glaze work; Outside non-member firing. Kilns are loaded for efficiency, airflow and schedules. There is no first come, first fired policy. However, there is a first to dry first to fly policy – as long as it revolves around an efficiently packed kiln in accordance to keeping classes on schedule. Unusually shaped objects and tall objects might have to wait slightly longer to be fired with similarly shaped items.