Our Studio Policies
COVID-19 POLICIES
Masks are no longer required while working in the studio. They are however encouraged and appreciated especially for groups larger than 3 people. This is for your safety and the safety of your instructor. There are masks available at the studio for free.
If your teacher requests that you wear them during your class please respect their request and wear them for the duration of your class.
We reserve the right to change our policies and guidelines without warning. If you have signed up for a class and are asked to wear a mask and refuse to wear one, you will not receive a refund or have your spot rescheduled.
As we actively receive more information and guidance from the CDC and the State of Illinois we will adjust our plans to observe the best practices for your safety.
STUDIO SAFETY POLICIES
Safety is very important to us at Chicago Glass Collective. Close-toed shoes are required at all times whenever you are working in the studio. Non-synthetic clothing must be worn while working on the torches or while working with the kilns at CGC. Safety glasses are required to be worn while cutting/working with glass anywhere in the studio and ear protection and glasses are required while working in the coldshop. Didymium glasses are available and are required to be worn while working on the torches.
N95 or a respirator is required when using the sandblaster.
PAYMENT FOR PRIVATE PARTIES AND WORK EVENTS
In order to reserve the date and time for requested work event and private party times and dates a 50% nonrefundable deposit needs to be paid the day the party or event is booked. The second half of the payment is due 10 business days before the scheduled party or work event. For every day the second half of the payment is late there will be a daily 3% charge added to the total. If the work event or a private party is scheduled within the 10 day window, the payment is due in full when the date and time are booked. Please see cancellation policies below.
CLASS REFUND POLICIES
Tuition is refundable for all regularly scheduled classes and workshops, minus a processing fee of 40% for each class dropped if the office is notified at least 10 days prior to the class/workshop start date. If CGC is notified 7-9 days before the class/workshop start date, tuition is refundable minus 45%. 6 days is a refund minus 50%, 5 days is a refund minus 65%, 4 days is a refund minus 75%, 3 days is a refund minus 85% and no refunds or rescheduling will be offered within 2 days of any class.
Students may opt to receive a studio credit towards another class in lieu of a refund based on the structure of the above refund policy.
Only one rescheduling per person per one day workshop is allowed. Students must appear within 20 minutes of the beginning of class. If they arrive later than that, no refunds or rescheduling will be allowed. If the student arrives within the 20 minute window, they still need to be finished with their projects by the end of class.
Classes dropped during the first week of each session are non-refundable.
Students are responsible for notifying CGC that they wish to drop a class or workshop; not attending class does not constitute an official withdrawal from courses or cancellation of tuition or fees. If you must drop a class or workshop after the deadline, no credit or refund will be given, except for documented medical reasons with physicians note. There is a limit of two classes per student per year that may be dropped with a refund or credit due to non-medical reasons.
Classes are cancelled when enrollment minimums are not reached. Cancellation begins approximately one week before the scheduled first class. Workshops and special events not meeting enrollment minimums will be cancelled two to three days before the start date. Visiting artist workshops will be cancelled at least 10 days prior to the start date. CGC cannot assume responsibility for travel costs for out of town students. Please contact us to confirm workshop status before booking travel. Students will be notified if classes are cancelled and will be eligible for a full refund or class credit.
PRIVATE CLASS AND WORKSHOP PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICIES
Group cancellations- In order to reserve a class date and time a non-refundable 50% deposit is due when reservation is made. The final payment is due a minimum of 10 days before the date of the event. A group that cancels 10 business days or less before the event will not be refunded its deposit. If the full fee has been paid or If the headcount of your group changes within 10 days of the event no refunds will be given. If you would like to reschedule within 10 days of your class, we will be happy to help you reschedule if there is availability on your new date but there is a $25 per person rescheduling fee per person. Your deposit/payment can be held and applied to a different date within 2 months of the original date. *If an individual from your group cancels please see information below.
Individual student cancellations- In order to reserve a class date and time a non-refundable 50% deposit is due when reservation is made. We will need to collect 50% % of the class fee for each person in the party who cancels within 9 days of the class start time. If someone wants to cancel within 8 days we collect 55%, 7 days we collect 60%, 6 days we collect 65%, 5 days we collect 75%, 4 days we collect 85% and 3 days we collect 90%. No refunds or rescheduling will be given if cancelling within 2 days of the class/event. This policy applies to individual students as well as individual students within a group. No refunds are given for no-shows on the day of the class.
If there is a request to reschedule within 3-10 days of your class there is a $25 rescheduling fee per person.
VISITING ARTIST WORKSHOP CANCELLATION POLICIES
Workshop registrants who cancel 10 days or less to the beginning of a visiting artist workshop will be refunded minus a cancellation fee of $500. if we are able to find another student to take your seat, you will receive a full refund. Any other cancellations within 10 days of the class will not be refunded unless we can find another student to fill your seat.
We reserve the right to cancel a workshop if the minimum enrollments are not met, in which case all workshop fees will be refunded to participants. Notifications will be made two weeks prior to a visiting artist workshop start date. CGC cannot be responsible for airline tickets or other travel costs in the event of a cancellation. Full payment of workshop is due at least 10 days prior to the class in order reserve a space.
GIFT CERTIFICATE POLICIES
There are no refunds for Gift Certificates (GC).
Gift Certificates maybe used only by the GC recipient. They are not transferable.
They may be used for Chicago Glass Collective (CGC) classes by redeeming them in the checkout portion of registration. If there are issues registering when using your GC please let us know.
If you would like to use them for a Dabble class you must register directly with the owner of CGC. Any remaining balance must be paid via Zelle, basic Venmo or CC at the time of class purchase. There is a 3% fee when using a CC and a 2% fee if using the “turn on for purchase protection” option on Venmo.
MEMBERSHIP POLICIES
There are no full refunds for membership dues. You may get a 25% refund within 2 weeks of signing up. There are no refunds for membership after that time.
There are no partial memberships available. There are no family or group memberships available. Each person must have their own membership. Memberships must be paid in full at the time of becoming a member. In certain circumstances a payment plan may be worked out with the owner of Chicago Glass Collective.
In rare situation a payment plan for membership might be possible. This decision is up to the owner. A written payment plan/invoice will need to be signed by the new member to ensure on time and full payment for membership by said member.
As a member you are allowed to work in the studio alone or with others when there is availability once your studio orientation and waiver is completed. You must schedule your time in advance or ask if space is available at least 24 hours prior to wanting to come in.
If you have fully paid your membership and do not work in the studio or contact the studio for at least 3 months, and you want to come back in and work, you must sign up for an new orientation and pay $75 unless your have worked out different arrangements with the owner of CGC.
Payment for studio time and kiln firings must be paid at the end of each session. Time Sheets and Project Sheets must be filled out properly and left with your pieces. Payment can be made via Zelle, Venmo, cash or check. If payment isn’t made at the end of each session, a fee of $10 will be added to each piece listed on your project sheet. This is non-negotiable.
If you have worked out a payment plan with the owner of the CGC and you do not finish paying your full membership or storage fees and do not work or contact the studio within a month of your most recent payment, anything left at the studio at that time becomes the property of the Chicago Glass Collective. That includes sheet glass, unfinished pieces, finished pieces, frit, powder, thinfire, tools and anything else that you leave behind. Your items will not be returned. This is non-negotiable.
If you decide to not renew your membership and leave behind any of your unfinished or finished pieces, tool, materials or glass for a month or more, all materials and glass will become property of CGC and not returned. This is non-negotiable.