Please read this information, along with the Terms and conditions before applying for a day space
Maze Studios, a studio for creative development.
Mission statement
We are a community interest company for aiding the facilitation of artist development as a stepping stone between formal training and personal artistic progression towards artist independence’.
Our aim
Maze Studios CIC is established to cultivate and promote the progression of publicly accessible facilities and access to education in contemporary visual art, craft and design through the development of artistic knowledge and public participation.
Maze Studios is a stepping stone offering three main areas:
Classes
Day spaces
Studio space (development spaces)
A Creative Space
A creative environment - A space that is alive with creativity.
Learning about and developing essential studio practice - Through inductions and independent use of the space you can achieve greater knowledge of your ceramic practice.
Creative interaction between artists - A space of sharing creative knowledge.
Encouragement for progression towards artist independence - Through self-directed experience and knowledge building artists can be encouraged towards identifying and achieving their next step.
Facilities
10 electric kilns
Electric throwing wheels
Clay recycling facilities
Large clay slab roller
Clay extruders
Large communal workspace
Loading bay at front of building for heavy/large items
Off-road car parking at the studios + disabled access ramp
Toilets
Internet (WIFI)
Inductions
You will be given a studio induction as part of your first Day Space session. This will cover use of the space health and safety and the necessary cleaning. It is also an opportunity to talk with us about what it is you will be making.
Inductions are given to create independent use of the space.
Although Maze Studios staff/management are regularly present but are not on hand as tutors, the correct and safe use of the facilities are of upmost importance, we are more than happy to help with queries about the use of the space and assist with guidance in gaining appropriate knowledge. One to one tuition can be arranged with a member of Maze Studios Staff.
Artists are responsible for looking after their work within the studios and for maintaining a safe and clean work environment.
There are up to thirty-two artists working on the premises and it is great to see and encourage artistic interaction and artistic collaboration, this interaction can be a great learning experience in itself being surrounded by creativity.
Kilns and firings
Maze Studios has a range of top and front-loading kilns, varying in size which makes firing work of differing sizes possible. As well as the studios new kilns the studio maintains a good standard of second-hand kilns with kilns coming from colleges and universities that no longer have the ability to host ceramic facilities.
The studios are not geared to facilitate businesses or a level of professionalism that requires, financial dependence or a need for greater consistency in the accuracy of firings for the selling of work. Personal investment in a new kiln will benefit the eventual work of artists moving on to professional careers.
Maze Studios places importance on the equality of the allocated use of space and its facilities. In order to maintain a balanced use of the facilities there is a firing allowance/limit for each artist per month.
Firings can be arranged by kiln load or as a percentage of kiln space.
Day Space artists are able to have work fired by placing stamped and labelled items on the appropriate shelve for the most common Earthenware and Stoneware bisque and glaze firings. There are weekly firings, Thursdays and Mondays.
Artist development
The studios are in encouragement of progression and artist development as well as acknowledging the benefits of creativity. The focus of our space is to enable steps towards this. As we have many artists, we do not have the facilities to incorporate businesses.
In order to manage artist growth, we have created the following studio format, as it would not be beneficial for artists to form a long-term reliance on the facilities in heading towards a successful business, to find they are then limited by the studios abilities to facilitate a greater level of productivity and professionalism.
Maze Studios is not able to support artists that are already in the process of product making or have already identified a product range and are looking to create, repeat produce for the purpose of selling.
Our aim is to facilitate the steps towards professionalism and knowledge towards an eventual step of studio independence. Helping artists develop and identify how they can achieve and support future growth is part of the studios ambition.
Maze Studios is able to align with its directives as a CIC in providing access to equipment and facilities to those at the early stages of development. With artists aware of this studios incentive, there is encouragement then for those that have made progression to seek alternative means of supporting greater productivity levels and in turn frees up space for those entering the development process.
Day Space sessions can be looked at as a great way to focus and dedicate a greater time to the exploration and investigation into your artistic practice. Identifying areas of interest developing methods, techniques and style.
Before applying for use of the Day Spaces, please read the studios terms and conditions and frequently asked questions on the Day Space web page.
