Glass Studio Rental Policies

We work hard to consistently bring you a quality facility, materials, and staff at Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts. To ensure paramount safety for our patrons, staff, and equipment, we have compiled a list of rules and safety policies for our Minneapolis, MN, glass studio. Please read these so you are familiar with our regulations before renting studio space and time to ensure a safe and quality space for all glass enthusiasts to gather.

For your reference, a "renter" is anyone who uses Foci MCGA’s studio equipment; including tools, pipes, torches, or other glass forming utensils.

All Renters Must

Booking Glass Studio Rental Reservations

The Foci MCGA Rental Calendar can be found here. Create an account and sign into our reservation system.

Reservations are required for studio rental. A renter must book time with at least 24 hours advanced notice. In the event it's within 24 hours, the renter needs to call the studio to make the reservation. It is up to the renter to indicate special needs on their rental slot in the description section on the reservation calendar.

Renters can rent time in the Hot Shop at a minimum of a three-hour slot. The minimum rental time for the Cold Shop, Classroom, Mold Room, and Flame Shop is half an hour.

View rental hours on our Contact Us page.

Renters should provide all necessary information as indicated on the reservation.

Special requests or notes should be indicated in the “description” section of the reservation.

If you are a new renter, please indicate this on your reservation. Studio staff need to sign off that new renters have gone through the studio orientations or a core class in order to work safely.

Renter Conduct

  • Renters are not permitted to operate any equipment at any time unless instructed to do so by Foci MCGA Staff.

  • Renters should notify staff immediately if they are hurt or concerned for their safety.

  • Our glass studio safety policies mandate the wearing of designated glasses and closed toe shoes while in all studios. N95 Particulate Respirator masks are highly recommended for any processes involving glass dust or powder.

  • Rental items may not leave the premises to ensure they are available to other studio users.

  • Renters are not permitted to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol while they are working in the Foci MCGA studios.

  • Code of Conduct: Foci MCGA does not permit disrespectful or dangerous conduct toward its members, guests, employees, vendors or property. Studio users are expected to treat Foci MCGA staff and others utilizing or patronizing Foci MCGA facilities with courtesy and respect. Failure to comply may result in the studio user’s permanent removal from access to any and all Foci MCGA facilities.

  • Anti-Discrimination: Foci MCGA has a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination or harassment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, public assistance, age, sexual orientation, familial status, or local human rights commission activity.

Cleaning After Your Glass Studio Rental

All studio users must clean up after themselves. Any work, materials, or supplies left unattended after working in the studio will be removed. As a general rule of thumb for a shared studio space, try to leave it better than you found it!

Cleaning must be completed during your rental time slot or class period in order to accommodate other studio renters, especially in the case of our higher traffic studio areas such as the hotshop. Please plan your time accordingly to avoid delaying another’s rental slot.

Failure to cleanup your rental area will result in an invoiced $57 cleaning fee.

Paying for Studio Rental

You are required to check out with the staff on duty and pay before leaving.

Studio time is paid for in half hour increments. If renters exceed their reservation limit, but the excess is less than fifteen minutes, they will not be charged for this portion of time. If renters exceed their reservation limit by more than 15 minutes, they will be charged an additional half an hour.

The minimum rental time for the Cold Shop, Classroom, Mold Room, and Flame Shop is half an hour.

Exceptions to the Rules

  • Renters are welcome to work longer than their scheduled blow slot, only if time on the rental calendar and resources are permitting. Otherwise, cleaning must be completed during your rental time slot or class period.

  • Renters may cancel their blow slot due to poor glass quality or malfunctioning equipment.

  • Renters are welcome to rent less than 3 hours if their blow slot falls before or after a pre-booked slot. These slots (less than 3 hours) are only available for day-of reservations and can be reserved day-of by calling the studio staff at 612-759-8476.

The Executive Director has the authority to override these glass studio safety policies and rules and can give verbal or written permission to any staff member or other Foci MCGA employee to do so.

Studio Rental Cancellation and Refund Policy

Hotshop Cancellations: Renters must cancel 24 hours before the scheduled slot to avoid a fee. If the renter cancels within 24 hours of their reservation, it will result in a $36 fee to cover operating costs. In the event a renter does not cancel their reservation and fails to notify the studio, they will be billed for the full amount of their rental reservation.

All Other Studio Cancellations: Cancellation fees are not enforced at this time. Please notify us for day-of changes so we can be make the rental time available to others.

Renters are first asked to call the studio and leave a message. If they cannot reach anyone by phone, they are asked to also email us at contact@mnglassart.org

Refunds for poor glass quality, malfunctioning equipment or terminating a reservation early are given at the discretion of the Studio Technicians or Executive Director.

Claiming Your Glass Work

Hot Shop

  • Renters are not permitted to open annealers to check for work unless given permission by studio staff.

  • Glass pieces are dated as they come out of the annealer and will be recycled or become Foci MCGA property if not picked up within 30 days after this date. Unloaded glass pieces are kept on the designated shelves in the Hot Shop.

Flame Shop

  • Renters are not permitted to open annealers to check for work unless given permission by studio staff.

  • Unloaded glass pieces are placed into small trays on the designated shelf in the Flame Shop. The trays will be dated with the unloading date. Glass pieces will be recycled or become Foci MCGA property if not picked up within 30 days after this date.

Kiln Shop

  • Kiln users are responsible for removing their pieces from the kilns at the end of their scheduled time. If you are unable to remove them at the end of the scheduled time, you may make arrangements with the staff to either empty it for a fee or schedule an unloading time. All work removed by staff should be retrieved within 30 days. Work older than 30 days will be recycled or become Foci MCGA property.

  • If you do not remove your pieces at the end of the scheduled time or make other arrangements in advance, your pieces may either be:

    • removed by staff and you will be charged a cleaning fee

    • OR you may be charged for the time you were occupying the kiln

Affirmation of Community Standards

Foci MCGA upholds a strict policy of equality and diversity. It is the intent of this organization and all representatives thereof to promote creativity, individuality, original thought and freedom of expression in order for all participants and members to develop and excel in this field. It is essential to our culture as a whole that the rights, safety, dignity and worth of every individual is respected and honored. Because our culture is very diverse it is the duty of this organization and all representatives thereof to embrace these significant parts of our culture through respect and open dialogue and discussion. Anyone failing to respect these fundamentals of our society through bigotry, discrimination, violence, or intimidation of any kind will immediately be removed from the facility.

Title IX Statement

Foci MCGA is committed to providing a learning and working environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free of sexual misconduct and discrimination. Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. Harassment is not acceptable. Immediately notify the Executive Director if you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted during any Foci MCGA program, event, rental or on Foci MCGA premises.