Membership Description & Requirements
There are three categories of membership: ACTIVE, PROVISIONAL, and SUPPORTING. Applications for membership in the Guild are accepted two times a year – March and September. Application form and a sampling of work (see below) must be submitted before or on the second Monday of March or September. Applicants are expected to have basic knowledge of the methods of working with clay in pottery and/or sculpture.
All applicants for membership must submit 5 examples of their work and a completed application form to the Guild Executive Board for review. Actual pieces of finished work is recommended and preferred over images. The review will determine the applicant’s membership status at time of entrance into the Guild. Membership applications are reviewed in March and September of each year.
ACTIVE: Applicants who have majored in ceramics in school, or have worked in ceramics for an extended period of time, are most often accepted as active members based primarily on the level of craftsmanship exhibited by their submitted ceramic pieces. The working knowledge, refined skill, and craftsmanship of ware, permits these members to participate in the Guild’s exhibitions and sales.
PROVISIONAL: Applicants who have only basic skills and lack an acceptable level of craftsmanship in their ceramics to attain active status are accepted as provisional members. Provisional members have most often completed only a few classes in ceramics. The Provisional status allows individuals to improve their skills and knowledge of working in clay through access to the Guild studio and educational activities. Provisional members are not permitted to participate in Guild exhibitions or sales. Provisional members may have their work reviewed in March and September for possible advancement to Active membership status as their craftsmanship and skills improve.
SUPPORTING: The Supporting category of membership is for individuals who strongly support the goals and objectives of the Guild. However, they cannot use the studio facilities, participate in Guild sales or exhibitions, or vote. They can attend Guild meetings.
NOTE: Members who plan on remaining inactive for a while, but wish to retain their current membership status, should always maintain at least a supporting membership for re-admittance to their prior status. Failure to do so would result in expiration of membership.
Dues and Fees
Dues are $130 annually for Active and Provisional members, and $30 for Supporting members. New members must also pay an initiation fee of $20. Membership dues for the calendar year are due no later than March 1st of that year. Dues will be pro-rated for new members.
Activities
The Guild studio at the Toledo Botanical Garden (TBG) is maintained by the Guild to promote pottery and clay sculpture as fine craft and art. It is a place for members to work and a classroom for students of the Guild. Storage space is not always available upon initial entry as a member, so these members may be asked to transport their equipment and work until storage space becomes available. Storage space will be allotted according to the date the application is received. Members may use either studio building at any time of the day. Classes or special activities occurring at the Garden may limit access to the studio buildings. Access to the studio is easiest during the hours the Garden is open to the public. Members who use the Guild Studios (Building #5 and #6) are expected to perform ongoing tasks in the maintenance, cleaning, and operation of the studio.
The Guild schedules a monthly general membership meeting the third Monday of every month at 7:00 pm – except July and August when no meetings are held. Unless one is a supporting member, attendance to at least one meeting a year is required to maintain membership. The meeting focuses on various subjects including education programs, planning sessions for Guild sales and exhibits, business procedures, and Guild maintenance. Executive Board meetings are held once a month and are open to the general membership.
The Guild also participates in activities held at the Toledo Botanical Garden, and in the TBG Resident Organization Program. TBG has offered the Guild a unique opportunity in having invited it to participate in the Resident Organization Program, which provides the studio building, access to meeting and exhibition space, administrative assistance and public exposure for the Guild.
Application is due by:
Spring: March 9, 2026
Fall: September 14, 2026