Terms and Conditions

Membership
Membership is open to printmakers with some experience. We require evidence of this. Minimum keyholder membership is 6 months. Your stand- ing order must be active before you are issued with a set of keys. Keys are only available for keyholder members.

Our organisation
The studio is run by a Management Committee for the members. We hold regular studio meetings and you are welcome to attend to contribute your ideas and energy to its running. Details of meetings appear in a regular newsletter. Management meetings are held every month where deci- sions and policies are made. Forms are available in the office if you wish to make a point raised via a committee member at a meeting. You cannot complain about policy if you do not take part in creating it so please try to be part of the process

Getting started
However experienced you are, you must attend an induction session in any process that you want to work in. This is to familiarise you with the materials and equipment that we use and to ensure safe working. This applies to all members. In addition to the induction as a keyholder member, you are asked to attend 2 sessions with the technician before you are allowed keys. There is a refundable deposit for the keys of £20.00 payable to Spike Island Artspace who oversees the building.

Ending membership
Please give one month’s notice if you wish to terminate your membership and settle any outstanding bills. It is vital that all keyholder members return their keys to the office. If you have not paid your membership subscriptions for 3 months without informing SPS, you are no longer considered a member.

Signing in
All members and visitors attending classes must sign themselves in and out in the diary kept in the screenprinting studio. This is a safety rule and a fire regulation for all Spike Island users.

Materials
You are expected to provide your own materials. The studio runs a shop during designated technician hours. Members must pay for all materials at the time of purchase.

Health and safety
You have a legal responsibility to look after yourself and others and to use all equipment with care. Do not use equipment, which has a restricted access notice. You are not allowed to use any equipment without full training. An Equipment Form is included with this membership pack and you must be signed off by the technician or authorised staff to use the presses. You MUST wear goggles, masks or ear defenders in the areas where they are required. Please read the Health and Safety Policy available from SPS office.

Looking after the studio
It is everyone’s responsibility to clear up including emptying bins, keeping the sink areas clean and washing up cups etc. Please do not overfill the bins. When necessary please take part in special sessions to clean the studios.
If you are a keyholder and last out make sure that all water and electrical appliances in all studios are switched off and that the French windows in etching are locked. This is a prime responsibility of keyholders. In an emergency, con- tact numbers are available on the mezzanine by the grey key cupboard.

Classes and Workshops
Classes and Workshops are part of who we are. As such, open access to the studio will be restricted during these times.

Conditions of membership

1. Members/users of the studio agree to abide by the current conditions of membership of Spike Print Studio as set out below by the Management Committee.
2. Members/users agree to adhere to SPS Health and Safety Policy. Those who put themselves or others at risk may be asked to leave the studio and their membership terminated.
3. Members using the studio must be competent to do so either by previous experience or by having completed one of the SPS induction courses. If there has been a long gap between induction and joining, we may require a fresh period of working with a member of staff or an experienced member.
4. Any member/user shall be responsible for paying for any damage caused to equipment they are using.
5. All work submitted to exhibitions either at Spike Print Stu- dio or touring, is at the artist’s own risk. We do not insure your artwork.
6. Framed and Unframed work must be signed in and out with Spike Print Studio Office.
7. All framed and unframed work must be removed from the mezzanine as soon as an exhibition is over. We cannot store members’ work. A charge of £10.00 per month will be imposed for storage, applicable after one month. We cannot guarantee storage or be responsible for damage. If work is not collected after 2 reminders it becomes the property of SPS.
8. We can only store inks or screens for members at a charge. Drawers charges apply. Items stored at the studio at are the artist’s own risk. Storage charges are payable 6 months in advance.
9. SPS acts as an agent for members. Members are liable for any complaints or returns of work. Commission will be charged on all sales through the studio or group exhibitions to offset administration costs. Commission rates may vary at the decision of the Management Committee. Work is not guaranteed to behung in studio exhibitions and a selection procedure applies for outside exhibitions. Commission will be charged if you are introduced to a buyer through the studio.
10. A member may be asked to leave the studio and mem- bership terminated on a motion voted by the Management Committee called with a 2-week warning.
11. If you leave, you must take all your work and items at that time. Work that is left in the studio and after a reminder (email or phone) will become the property of the studio.
12. Members must consider other users of the Spike Island building and treat them respectfully. Non keyholders may only access the studio during designated times. Spike Island Reception will refuse you entry during non designated times.

Studio rules

1. No member shall use materials in a way that may cause danger to themselves and others through risk of fire, toxic fumes or other hazards.
2. There is a rule of no smoking in all areas of fire risk. You are not allowed to drink alcohol whilst operating equipment in the studio.
3. Rules on ventilation and use of face masks and ear defend- ers must always be observed.
4. Any member who takes any action, or by neglect, contra- venes Safety Rules Nos 1, 2 or 3, or any safety rules decided by the Management Committee, shall be asked to stop any action that offends or endangers other members.
5. Any member who persists in breaking the above safety rules may be asked to terminate his/her membership on a motion carried by a majority vote of a special workshop meeting called to discuss the matter and notified to all the other members. The quorum of this meeting shall be 7 members including 2 officers (Chair, Secretary or Treasurer).
6. Any member who disturbs the smooth running of the studio may be asked to attend a special meeting constituted as detailed in Rule 5. The member may, on a majority vote, be asked to terminate membership.
7. Radio/cassette/cd players may only be used in the studio by agreement of all members present. Any member shall be entitled to object to a disturbance and raise a complaint at a workshop Management Meeting.
8. No dogs allowed in the studio on grounds of safety.
9. All members are expected to clear up after use all the areas of the studio that they have used including washing up mugs and emptying bins.
10. Membership Rules and Studio Rules may be added to or amended by the resolution of a Management Meeting. Such rules shall be posted and shall be binding on all members. Additional safety rules shall be enforced as detailed in Rules 4 & 5 above.