Ann Arbor Potters Guild Membership Information

When space is available in its facility the Guild may choose to accept applications for Visiting Potter and Guild Membership status from qualified individuals.  These opportunities are for the mutual benefit of the Guild and potters desiring to work in a cooperative workshop.  In its well-used building, all equipment is shared by students and members.  All kiln space is earned by labor with materials paid for by dues.  All participants share their knowledge in a community atmosphere.

Temporary Membership
The Potters Guild offers two types of temporary membership: Visiting Member and Adjunct Member.

Visiting Member
Visiting membership of three to six months (renewable once) is offered to potters of established reputation when their circumstances necessitate temporary studio space in a cooperative setting.  This short-term opportunity of mutual benefit is not a first step to full membership.

Application Procedure for Visiting membership:
Contact the Membership Chair, Dynese McClumpha via email: dynese@mcclumphaworks.com for more information.  If you qualify, the Membership Chair will arrange a meeting between you and the Potters Guild Executive Board.  At the meeting you will be expected to show works, present a résumé and discuss your background and needs.

Duties and Rights of the Visiting Member:
1. The Member must fulfill Guild obligations which include cleaning, clay making, general participation in Guild work, and time spent in production at the Guild.
2. A goal of at least 50% of fired points earned through kiln work is desired.  Kiln related work includes firing stacking, un-stacking, and maintenance.
3. The member is assigned one shelf for storage of supplies, tools, etc.
4. The member pays a pro ration of the current annual dues.
5. A key to the building is given to the member when the director determines that the member has become familiar with Guild procedures.
6. Participation in Guild bi-annual sales and the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair are not included in the Visiting Memberships category.

Adjunct Member
An Adjunct membership of up to two years is offered to qualified potters at the annual membership meeting in January. During the two years of adjunct membership, the member is obliged to learn Guild procedures and kiln processes while they develop their work.  While in the first year of training an adjunct member is known and an Intern Potter.  During the second year of training, an adjunct member serves as a Resident Potter.  These terms imply commitment to the Guild as a learning, contributing member of the cooperative with the goal of becoming a full member.

Application Procedure for Visiting Membership:

Intern Potter (first year of Adjunct membership)
To be considered by the Guild for an Adjunct membership:

1. Contact the Membership Chair, Dynese McClumpha, 734-769-1714, to present a show (set up after December 25) of 5 works accompanied by a résumé and brief statement.
2. Applicants will be individually and privately considered, evaluated, and rated by the full members on an available evaluation form during a two-week preview period before the January membership meeting.  These evaluation forms will be tallied by the Membership Chair and presented as a voting order.
3. At the membership meeting, following a determination of available space, a two thirds affirmative vote is required for acceptance to an eleven month term.

Duties and Rights of the Intern Potter (First year Adjunct Member):
1. The member must fulfill Guild obligations which include cleaning, clay making, attendance at meetings, general participation in Guild work, participation in Guild bi-annual sales and related work, and time spent in production at the Guild.  The Points, Kiln, and Membership Chairs will monitor the progress of the member in these obligations.
2. A goal of at least 50% of fired points earned through kiln work is required.  Kiln related work includes firing stacking, un-stacking, and maintenance.  During the intern year the adjunct member will learn to light warm-up burners, become involved regularly in stacking, bricking, firing bisque kilns, and be involved in some glaze stacking.
3. The member will be assigned one shelf for storage of supplies, tools, etc.
4. The member will pay a pro ration of the current annual dues.

End of First Year:
A brief evaluation will be conducted by the Points, Kiln, and Membership Chairs regarding artistic growth and competence, Guild obligations, and satisfactory fit into the Guild.  The member is not required to show their work.  The discussion of each Intern member is lead by the Membership Chair at the January meeting.  A two-thirds affirmative vote is required for movement to the second year as Resident Potter.

Duties and Rights of the Resident Potter (Second year Adjunct Member):
1. The member must continue to fulfill Guild obligations.
2. By the end of the second year, the Adjunct member must be independently and competently stacking, bricking, and firing the bisque kiln, and be regularly involved in kiln work including work on the glaze kiln.
3. The member will be assigned two shelves for storage of supplies, tools, etc. unless the resident's production the previous year was less than 10,000 cubic inches. In that case, the resident retains one shelf.
4. The member will pay a pro ration of the current annual dues.

Consideration for Full Membership:
For the Adjunct Member to become a Full Member, a show of 5 works (set up after December 25th) will be presented for consideration, evaluation and rating privately and individually by full members.  This evaluation, in the form of a ballot, will be used by the Membership Chair to rank the order of the applicants during the two weeks before the january membership meeting.  At the membership meeting a three-quarters vote is required for acceptance into full membership.