Membership types

Amfora offers two membership types:

• Full membership (monthly, quarterly or annual) includes unlimited studio access during opening hours and one large dedicated shelf.

• Casual membership is a monthly subscription that includes the right to book open studio sessions, one storage tub and use of the shared WIP shelves. Each booked session is charged separately.

One-off studio access is available without a membership. One-off sessions are booked and paid for individually at the one-off rate. Students of Amfora courses can have a free induction at their last class (section 3).

These terms apply to all members and one-off users unless a section says otherwise.

1. Membership Access

Membership grants access to the Amfora studio at the Abbotsford Convent Arts Precinct. The studio is open from 7am to midnight, with last entry at 10pm, seven days a week. Access is personal and non-transferable. Members should not bring guests into the studio without prior permission from Amfora staff.

Full members may use the studio at any time during Convent opening hours. Casual members and one-off users may use the studio during the sessions they have booked and paid for.

One-off sessions are available during staffed hours only. Inductions run at set times with Amfora staff and are available to book via our Membership page. Current staffed hours are shown on our Contact page.

2. Inclusions

All membership types include access to wheels, hand building tools, studio equipment, clay and studio glazes during studio time. Kiln firing is charged per kilogram and is billed once only, before bisque firing. This covers both bisque and glaze firings. Storage is covered in section 8.

Casual members pay a session fee for each booked session, in addition to the monthly casual membership fee.

One-off users pay the one-off session fee for each booked session. Current fees are listed on our membership page.

Firing rates: Kiln firing is charged separately for everyone, at one of three per-kilogram rates:

• Member rate: full and casual members.

• Student rate: students of an Amfora course, for work made during their course.

• Non-member rate: one-off users and firing by arrangement (section 12).

Current firing rates are listed on our membership page.

Amfora only supplies and fires clay and glazes suitable for stoneware temperatures (Cone 8-10). Members and one-off users should not bring earthenware, low fire or mid-fire clay or glazes into the studio without prior discussion with Amfora staff, to avoid kiln accidents.

Guided sessions: Amfora runs guided sessions with a teacher at scheduled times, usually 4 to 6 each quarter. Full members can book them at no extra cost, subject to availability. Casual members and one-off users pay a guided session fee. Current fees are listed on our membership page.

Member discounts: Full and casual members receive discount codes for Amfora courses and workshops, for Melbourne Clay, and for friends and family. Codes are valid with an active membership, and one discount code can be used per booking. Current offers are listed on our membership page.

3. Induction

All new members and one-off users are required to complete an induction before practising at Amfora, regardless of membership type or prior experience. This is to familiarise you with our studio, as all studios run a little differently.

The induction is a paid 30 to 45 minute session at set times, including a tour of the studio. If you join as a casual or full member within 14 days of your induction, the induction fee comes off your first membership payment. Use the code you receive at your induction when you sign up.

Students of Amfora courses can have a free induction in the final 15 minutes of their last class. Students who want to start open studio sessions before their course ends can book a standard induction.

Induction sessions can be booked via our Membership page.

Members inducted before 1 November 2026 do not need to repeat it.

4. Billing and Payments

Current membership pricing is available at: https://amfora.studio/membership

Monthly memberships (including casual memberships) are billed on the same date each month. Quarterly and annual memberships are charged upfront at the time of purchase. Membership commences on the date the payment is processed. If a payment fails, a 48-hour grace period applies before studio access is suspended. Access is reinstated automatically once payment is resolved.

Casual members need an active casual membership to book sessions. If a casual membership payment fails and is not resolved within the grace period, upcoming bookings may be cancelled and new bookings blocked until payment is resolved. Casual membership is available monthly only.

Once you have purchased a membership, you can create an account using the link “SIGN UP” in the top right hand corner of the web page. Here you can create an account using the same email you purchased with, and you will be able to manage or cancel the subscription yourself.

5. Cancellation

Full monthly membership

To cancel your monthly membership, written notice must be received at least 14 days before your next billing date. Membership and studio access continue throughout the notice period.

Casual membership

You can cancel your casual membership at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing month, and bookings made for dates after that will be cancelled. Please collect your work before your membership ends (see section 8).

Quarterly and annual membership

Quarterly and annual memberships are paid upfront and are non-refundable. Notice of cancellation must be received at least 20 days before your next billing date. Membership and studio access continue throughout the notice period. If you need to exit early due to exceptional circumstances, please get in touch. We will consider requests for a credit note on unused months at our discretion.

6. Pausing Your Membership

Quarterly and annual full members who have held an active membership for six or more months may request a single pause of up to 8 weeks per calendar year.

A pause means we retain your work and equipment on site and resume your membership when you are back.

Pause requests are subject to availability and granted at Amfora’s discretion. Billing resumes automatically at the end of the pause period. Pauses are not available to members within their first six months.

Casual memberships cannot be paused. Casual members can cancel and rejoin at any time, subject to availability. Work in progress must be collected before a casual membership ends.

7. Studio Conduct

The studio is a shared space. We ask all visitors, members and users to treat it with care and each other with respect.

Please clean up fully after every session so we can minimise dust in the studio. This includes mopping the area where you have been working, and wiping the wedging table, boards, benches, wheels, tools, sinks, and any surfaces you have used. Clay and splashes should not be left on equipment or surfaces.

Please respect others’ space and work. Do not touch, move, or interfere with another member’s pieces unless given express permission by that member.

Please be considerate of others who are working quietly, and keep disruptions, conversation and music at a level that respects the room.

Suspension and cancellation of access

Amfora may suspend or cancel a membership, booking or studio access if a member, one-off user or visitor:

• is abusive, threatening, harassing or discriminatory towards staff, members, students or anyone at the Abbotsford Convent

• steals, or deliberately damages, studio property or another person's work or belongings

• engages in unlawful activity at the studio or the Convent

• uses the studio while affected by alcohol or drugs, or acts in a way that puts others at risk

• shares their access with others or brings in guests without permission

• repeatedly breaches these terms or safety instructions after being asked to stop

8. Storage and management of work in progress

Full members (monthly, quarterly and annual): Each full member is allocated one large dedicated shelf for work in progress. This will be labelled for you by Amfora staff.

Casual members: Each casual member is allocated one 21L storage tub supplied by Amfora for work in progress, labelled by Amfora staff. Casual members may also use the shared WIP shelves. Space on the shared shelves is limited, so please keep work moving through the process.

One-off users: One-off users may use the shared WIP shelves only and are not allocated a tub. Work on the shared shelves is subject to the 2-week timeframes below.

Collections, all members: Fired pieces must be removed from the collection rack within one month of firing. Pieces left beyond this period may be disposed of at Amfora’s discretion.

Members must manage their own work, including wrapping in plastic or storing in a tub to prevent drying (some plastic is provided, but members may wish to bring their own), and clearly labelling it with their name and the date it was stored.

Unlabelled work anywhere in the studio, and work left on the shared WIP shelves beyond the following timeframes, will be managed as follows:

• Greenware left unlabelled, or on the shared shelves for more than 2 weeks, will be recycled.

• Bisque work left unlabelled, or on the shared shelves for more than 2 weeks, will be disposed of or repurposed by the studio.

When your membership ends: All work in progress, finished pieces and your tub contents must be collected within 14 days of your membership ending. Work left after this will be recycled or disposed of at Amfora’s discretion.

9. Use of Studio Equipment and Tools

Shared equipment and tools are available for member use and are also used for classes. Please treat all equipment with care, clean thoroughly after use, and return items to their original position. If others are waiting, be mindful of how long you are occupying a wheel or tool, and communicate openly if a scheduling conflict arises.

A Bluetooth speaker is available for members to use during open studio sessions. Studio staff and teachers have priority use of the speaker when present or when a class is running. We love music. Just keep the volume and choice considerate of others in the space.

It is a member’s responsibility to wipe the bases of their pieces free from glaze and/or request the use of a setter to avoid kiln shelf damage from melted or runny glaze. Accidents happen, but if kiln shelves are damaged beyond repair due to improper cleaning, Amfora may charge members a replacement fee.

10. Liability

Working with clay, glazes, and studio equipment involves inherent risk. By becoming a member, you acknowledge this and agree to follow all safety instructions provided by Amfora staff.

Amfora takes reasonable care of work in progress but cannot accept responsibility for pieces lost, damaged, or broken during the drying, trimming, or firing process. Kiln breakage is a normal part of working with clay and is not grounds for a refund or credit.

Amfora accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to personal belongings brought into the studio.

11. Experience Requirement

Full membership is open to potters who are comfortable and self-directed in the studio, generally with at least 12 months of clay experience. By purchasing a full membership, you confirm that you meet this requirement.

Casual membership is open to potters who can work independently in the studio, for example, after completing an Amfora course or equivalent experience. If you are unsure whether you are ready, please get in touch before booking.

One-off access is open to anyone who has completed an induction.

12. Firing by Arrangement

Amfora may fire work made outside the studio, by prior arrangement with Amfora staff only and subject to kiln capacity. This is not a service available on request, and Amfora may pause it at any time.

• Clay: work must be made from a commercial stoneware clay rated for Cone 8-10. Please give us the brand and product name before your first drop-off (a photo of the bag label is fine). Reclaimed, mixed or unidentified clay can’t be accepted.

• Glaze: work glazed outside the studio can’t be accepted. We can bisque fire your work, or you can glaze it at the studio with studio glazes in a booked glazing session.

• Condition: work must be bone dry, clearly labelled with your name and the date, and have no sealed hollow forms. Staff check all work at drop-off and may refuse any piece.

• Drop-off: by arrangement with Amfora staff.

• Cost: firing is charged per kilogram at the non-member rate, with a minimum of 500g per drop-off, paid at drop-off.

• Timing: studio and class work is fired first. Turnaround is usually 2-4 weeks and is not guaranteed.

The collection, kiln shelf damage and liability terms in sections 8, 9 and 10 apply to work fired by arrangement.

13. Changes to These Terms

Amfora reserves the right to update these terms. Members will be notified of any material changes with reasonable notice before they take effect and given an opportunity to cancel their membership in accordance with the above terms if they do not agree to the changes.