Themes: Storage Use, Allocation, and Transition
Consolidated Question
When are Guilds and individual members required to remove stored items, lockers, and materials from AGB studios, and what constitutes a “reasonable” or “decent” amount of time?
Aligned Requests
- Clarify whether Guilds are required to remove libraries, materials, wool, tools, and storage units in January.
- Confirm deadlines for pottery studio lockers, shelves, and upper storage areas.
- Identify how much notice will be provided for future studio clean-outs.
- Explain how works in progress are handled during transitions.
AGB Response
AGB recognizes that storage transitions require planning and coordination, particularly for Guilds and members with significant materials onsite. Storage removals are being implemented in phases, with advance notice provided by studio.
For the Ceramic Studio, formal notice was issued in December, with all personal items required to be removed by Sunday, January 25, to allow for deep cleaning, safety inspection, inventory review, and equitable redistribution of storage. Reorganization and new storage assignments are targeted for mid-February.
This timeline reflects the complexity and safety requirements of the Ceramic Studio and does not constitute a blanket January removal for all studios. Other studios will follow on a rotating basis, with reasonable notice provided in advance.
During major studio-wide resets, all works in progress must be fully removed. While AGB will make reasonable efforts to safeguard works during routine annual cleanings, active projects cannot remain during major reorganizations. Members are encouraged to plan production accordingly.
Consolidated Question
Will locker management revert to AGB, including Guild-managed lockers such as those in the darkroom, and how will associated funds be handled?
Aligned Requests
- Confirm whether Latow darkroom lockers are included.
- Clarify why AGB is assuming control of locker fees previously collected by Guilds.
- Explain how locker revenue will be used going forward.
AGB Response
All lockers and storage areas within AGB studios will be centrally managed by AGB to ensure consistent oversight, equitable access, and alignment with safety and accessibility standards.
This includes lockers previously managed by Guilds, such as those in the darkroom. Under the new model, Guilds will no longer collect or administer storage fees. All storage rentals and associated fees will be administered by AGB.
Revenue generated through locker and storage rentals will be fully reinvested into studio maintenance, safety improvements, and equipment upgrades. This centralized approach ensures transparency, consistent enforcement, and direct alignment between fee collection and operational responsibility.
Consolidated Question
What storage options will be available to individual Studio Access Members, how much will they cost, and how long are rental terms?
Aligned Requests
- Provide pricing for lockers, shelving, and pottery storage.
- Confirm whether storage is offered on 3-, 6-, or 12-month terms.
- Clarify what happens at the end of a rental term.
- Confirm whether floor storage (e.g., glaze buckets) will continue.
AGB Response
Individual storage rentals are available to Studio Access Members in good standing and are subject to availability and studio-specific capacity.
In the Ceramic Studio, the following fee structure applies:
- Lockers (under table):
$90 / year | $48 / 6 months | $25 / 3 months
- Shelving:
$65 / year | $35 / 6 months | $18 / 3 months
- Floor storage (e.g., glaze buckets):
To be confirmed following studio clean-up and reorganization.
Storage rentals are offered on 3-month, 6-month, and annual terms and are automatically renewable. Members receive 30 days’ notice prior to renewal. Storage that is not renewed must be cleared by the stated end date.
Other studios will follow comparable fee structures, adapted to their specific needs and safety considerations.
Consolidated Question
How will storage be allocated fairly, and will members be required to move items out at the end of each rental term?
Aligned Requests
- Confirm whether storage can be renewed without clearing items.
- Explain how waitlists will work in high-demand studios.
- Clarify whether AGB can rebalance storage allocations.
AGB Response
Storage is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability. High-demand studios may implement waitlists.
Renewed storage does not require members to remove and re-store items between terms, provided the rental is renewed on time and remains compliant with the Standard Operating Procedure. AGB reserves the right to rebalance storage allocations where necessary to ensure equitable access, safety, and operational efficiency.
No storage allocation is permanent or exclusive. All storage remains subject to periodic review.
Consolidated Question
What storage is provided to Guilds under the Community Group Membership, and what may be stored there?
Aligned Requests
- Clarify the amount of storage allocated to each Guild.
- Confirm whether personal member items may be stored in CGM storage.
- Explain cataloguing and oversight requirements.
AGB Response
Each Guild holding a valid Community Group Membership receives 64 cubic feet of AGB-managed storage (approximately 8 ft × 4 ft × 2 ft).
This storage is intended solely for organizational materials, including shared equipment, demonstration tools, libraries, archives, and governance materials. Personal member belongings are not permitted in CGM storage areas.
All CGM storage is catalogued and overseen by AGB. Guilds provide a high-level inventory list, which is reviewed by the Studio Technician for safety, accuracy, and appropriate use. Storage locations may be adjusted as required for operational or safety reasons.
Consolidated Question
How will storage policies address accessibility concerns, particularly for seniors and members with mobility limitations?
Aligned Requests
- Acknowledge the volume of materials required for pottery and similar disciplines.
- Confirm whether storage assignments will consider accessibility needs.
AGB Response
AGB recognizes that certain disciplines require significant tools and materials and that accessibility is a key consideration, particularly for senior members.
Studios are being reorganized to reduce floor clutter, improve clear pathways, and explore adaptive shelving heights and ergonomic improvements. When assigning storage, AGB will make reasonable efforts to accommodate members with mobility limitations while maintaining fairness and safety for all users.
Consolidated Question
How secure is AGB storage, and who is responsible for loss or damage?
Aligned Requests
- Clarify whether storage is insured.
- Confirm whether personal locks are permitted.
- Explain AGB’s access rights.
AGB Response
All storage provided by AGB is for convenience only and is not insured. AGB is not responsible for loss, theft, breakage, or deterioration of stored items, except where required by law.
Personal locks are not permitted. AGB locks may be rented at a nominal fee, with duplicate keys held by AGB. AGB reserves the right to access any storage area for safety, maintenance, or emergency purposes.
Consolidated Question
What happens if storage rules are not followed?
Aligned Requests
- Clarify consequences for exceeding allocated storage.
- Confirm AGB’s authority to remove items.
AGB Response
AGB may remove or relocate items that block access, pose safety risks, exceed allocated storage, or otherwise violate the Storage Use SOP. Repeated non-compliance may result in loss of storage privileges, additional fees, or suspension of studio access.
AGB recognizes the central role storage plays in supporting creative practice. The transition to a standardized, AGB-managed storage system is intended to improve safety, accessibility, equity, and long-term sustainability. All changes will be communicated clearly, implemented in phases, and reviewed as studios evolve.