2024: At DCC we prioritize the health and well-being of our community members. In response to the ongoing public health situation, we value the diverse needs and choices of our community members. In recognition of individual preferences and public health considerations, we have implemented a Supportive Mask-Wearing Policy to ensure everyone feels comfortable and safe. Mask wearing will continue to be voluntary.
Masks are available at the front door of the studio.
We require that participants certify they have received initial vaccinations before attending a class, workshop or event at DCC.
Masks are available at the front door of the studio.
We require that participants certify they have received initial vaccinations before attending a class, workshop or event at DCC.
To see our most recent DCC Guidelines & Procedures, go here.
3/3/2021: On Monday, March 14th, District Clay will Transition to Voluntary Masking
District Clay follows CDC Guidelines on masking.
On Friday, February 25th, the CCD issued new guidelines, which take into account infection rates, hospital admissions and hospital bed use. Based on those criteria, the CDC no longer recommends that Washington DC require indoor masking or social distancing. Instead, Washington DC is in the GREEN category which means risks are low.
On Tuesday, March 1st, the District of Columbia, which uses different criteria for its COVID guidelines, ended its indoor mask mandate.
District infection rates - at 12 per 100,000 - are now among the lowest in the country (7th lowest) and are now down at pre-omicron levels (when masks were not no longer required.) Only three states - Hawaii, Washington and Oregon - still have mask mandates and all three of those mandates are being phased out this month.
District Clay continues to encourage all its students, staff and teachers to continue to wear masks if they wish.
Everyone entering District Clay must be fully vaccinated.
District Clay follows CDC Guidelines on masking.
On Friday, February 25th, the CCD issued new guidelines, which take into account infection rates, hospital admissions and hospital bed use. Based on those criteria, the CDC no longer recommends that Washington DC require indoor masking or social distancing. Instead, Washington DC is in the GREEN category which means risks are low.
On Tuesday, March 1st, the District of Columbia, which uses different criteria for its COVID guidelines, ended its indoor mask mandate.
District infection rates - at 12 per 100,000 - are now among the lowest in the country (7th lowest) and are now down at pre-omicron levels (when masks were not no longer required.) Only three states - Hawaii, Washington and Oregon - still have mask mandates and all three of those mandates are being phased out this month.
District Clay continues to encourage all its students, staff and teachers to continue to wear masks if they wish.
Everyone entering District Clay must be fully vaccinated.
11/15/2021: District Clay maintains indoor mask requirement.
Based on improvements in a number of areas, the District of Columbia has removed it's indoor mask requirement for businesses.
District Clay is continuing its indoor mask requirement because the CDC recommends indoor masking in areas where "substantial" (or higher) transmission is occurring. According to CDC data, the District is still showing substantial transmission of COVID-19.
Based on improvements in a number of areas, the District of Columbia has removed it's indoor mask requirement for businesses.
District Clay is continuing its indoor mask requirement because the CDC recommends indoor masking in areas where "substantial" (or higher) transmission is occurring. According to CDC data, the District is still showing substantial transmission of COVID-19.
8/26/2021: Beginning Sept 8th, people entering District Clay will need to demostrate that they have been vaccinated.
Details:
1) All new and returning students, DCC artists and workshop attendees must supply proof of vaccination online in order to enter District Clay. Once uploaded, they will not have to submit the information again.
2) One shot and one time private party attendees must show a paper vaccine card or a photo of their vaccine card at the door in order to be admitted.
Returning students and DCC artists will be sent links through email to upload their vaccine cards. New students will get an email with a link after they sign up for their class - they will need to upload their card before they are officially registered in their class.
For more information, including our rationale and a Q&A about our new policy, please go here.
Details:
1) All new and returning students, DCC artists and workshop attendees must supply proof of vaccination online in order to enter District Clay. Once uploaded, they will not have to submit the information again.
2) One shot and one time private party attendees must show a paper vaccine card or a photo of their vaccine card at the door in order to be admitted.
Returning students and DCC artists will be sent links through email to upload their vaccine cards. New students will get an email with a link after they sign up for their class - they will need to upload their card before they are officially registered in their class.
For more information, including our rationale and a Q&A about our new policy, please go here.
8/12/2021: UPDATE - All DCC Teachers are fully vaccinated.
On July 29th, DCC instituted a new policy that all DCC teachers must be fully vaccinated in order to teach classes at District Clay.
On July 29th, DCC instituted a new policy that all DCC teachers must be fully vaccinated in order to teach classes at District Clay.
7/29/2021: Masks Required Inside District Clay
Per CDC and DC government guidelines, masks are now required while inside District Clay, regardless of vaccination status.
Because of the rise of the highly infectious Delta variant, on July 27th the CDC issued new guidelines advising that when an area has substantial or high transmission of COVID-19, people should mask indoors. On Wednesday, July 28th, CDC data showed that the District of Columbia had become an area of substantial transmission.
On Thursday, July 29th, the District of Columbia mandated mask wearing indoors as of Friday, July 30th.
Per CDC and DC government guidelines, masks are now required while inside District Clay, regardless of vaccination status.
Because of the rise of the highly infectious Delta variant, on July 27th the CDC issued new guidelines advising that when an area has substantial or high transmission of COVID-19, people should mask indoors. On Wednesday, July 28th, CDC data showed that the District of Columbia had become an area of substantial transmission.
On Thursday, July 29th, the District of Columbia mandated mask wearing indoors as of Friday, July 30th.
7/1/2021: New Changes to COVID Guidelines
Because of District Clay's excellent vaccination numbers, new guidance from the District and continuing steep declines in cases in the District, we will be removing many COVID restrictions at District Clay on July 1st while keeping sanitizer, free masks and other materials available to students who may wish to use them.
We are also making a permanent change to student and work/study cleaning procedures by requiring the use of soap.
Face masks for those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to be required and will be optional for everyone else.
During the first week in August, our current plan is to end social distancing of wheels and work stations and re-organize the Center's classrooms.
Recent Data Review:
District Clay Vaccination Tracker: Mid May - Mid June: 99.6% of people entering District Clay were vaccinated, 95% were fully vaccinated.
DC Vaccination Rate: 72% of DC residents have now received at least one dose.
DC Infection Rate: Infections have fallen by 92% since the Mayor announced DCC would reopened (May 15). At 1 case per 100,000 residents, the District has one of the lowest infection rates in the country.
July 1 Changes
1. People entering District Clay will no longer be required to sanitize and wash their hands but we encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap when entering and leaving District Clay as a basic safety step.
This recognizes that soap is a powerful agent in killing many types of pathogens, not just COVID-19. Whenever you enter a community situation, a good standard practice is to thoroughly wash your hands with soap when entering and leaving to prevent the spread of germs and viruses to yourself and others.
2. Temperature checks will no longer be required.
3. Cleaning procedures will be changed so that disinfecting is not required but soap is now required to be used whenever you clean up. This follows new District of Columbia Guidelines. We are now asking students to squirt soap from our dispensers into their clean-up buckets when they clean up. (Also our work/study teams will now do daily cleaning using soap.)
4. The sign in sheet will be retained but will be changed to collect only name, type of entry (artist, staff, student) and reason for entry (wheel, handbuilding, other).
5. We will leave one sanitizing bucket and all sanitizer stations up for those who want to use them. A thermometer will be available at the entry desk.
Because of District Clay's excellent vaccination numbers, new guidance from the District and continuing steep declines in cases in the District, we will be removing many COVID restrictions at District Clay on July 1st while keeping sanitizer, free masks and other materials available to students who may wish to use them.
We are also making a permanent change to student and work/study cleaning procedures by requiring the use of soap.
Face masks for those who are not fully vaccinated will continue to be required and will be optional for everyone else.
During the first week in August, our current plan is to end social distancing of wheels and work stations and re-organize the Center's classrooms.
Recent Data Review:
District Clay Vaccination Tracker: Mid May - Mid June: 99.6% of people entering District Clay were vaccinated, 95% were fully vaccinated.
DC Vaccination Rate: 72% of DC residents have now received at least one dose.
DC Infection Rate: Infections have fallen by 92% since the Mayor announced DCC would reopened (May 15). At 1 case per 100,000 residents, the District has one of the lowest infection rates in the country.
July 1 Changes
1. People entering District Clay will no longer be required to sanitize and wash their hands but we encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap when entering and leaving District Clay as a basic safety step.
This recognizes that soap is a powerful agent in killing many types of pathogens, not just COVID-19. Whenever you enter a community situation, a good standard practice is to thoroughly wash your hands with soap when entering and leaving to prevent the spread of germs and viruses to yourself and others.
2. Temperature checks will no longer be required.
3. Cleaning procedures will be changed so that disinfecting is not required but soap is now required to be used whenever you clean up. This follows new District of Columbia Guidelines. We are now asking students to squirt soap from our dispensers into their clean-up buckets when they clean up. (Also our work/study teams will now do daily cleaning using soap.)
4. The sign in sheet will be retained but will be changed to collect only name, type of entry (artist, staff, student) and reason for entry (wheel, handbuilding, other).
5. We will leave one sanitizing bucket and all sanitizer stations up for those who want to use them. A thermometer will be available at the entry desk.
6/1/2021: Maskless Entry for Fully Vaccinated Individuals Begins
District Clay confirms that, as of June 1st, if you are fully vaccinated (final shot plus two weeks), you may remove your mask while at District Clay. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must continue to wear a mask while inside District Clay.
While the District has removed all capacity restrictions on DC business, no other changes to District Clay's social distancing, disinfecting, wheel and workstation separations and sign in procedures are being made.
We based this decision on the following information:
1) Our Daily Vaccination Tracker shows very high vaccination rates of people entering District Clay: 93.2% fully vaccinated, 6.5% partially vaccinated, .3% (one person) not yet vaccinated.
2) DC continues to be a top ranked state with a vaccination rate of 57% as of last Friday. Infection rates are now at 3 cases per 100,000 (the lowest of any state) and the R factor (at .77) indicates that infections will continue to decline. Since the Mayor announced that the city is completely re-opening, cases have declined by a further 59%.
3) In discussions with students about changing our mask policy, we have received only a few statements of concern.
4) Since District Clay re-opened in July, we have had over 12,500 single entry visits and only three reported cases of COVID infection. In all three of those reports, the infection incurred outside of District Clay and there was no spread inside of District Clay.
We want to stress three things for those with concerns:
1) If you so choose, wearing a mask, sanitizing and socially distancing will still provide the same protection as before* in the unlikely event an infectious person was to be present inside District Clay. (Medical authorities have determined that these steps are no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals.)
2) Studies continue to show that fully vaccinated individuals are at minimal risk of infection; that if infected, they are not able to spread infection because of low viral loads and that any infection is mild and usually asymptomatic. A recent study confirmed that vaccines strongly protect against the new Indian variant.
3) No one will ever be asked to remove a mask at District Clay.
District Clay confirms that, as of June 1st, if you are fully vaccinated (final shot plus two weeks), you may remove your mask while at District Clay. If you are not fully vaccinated, you must continue to wear a mask while inside District Clay.
While the District has removed all capacity restrictions on DC business, no other changes to District Clay's social distancing, disinfecting, wheel and workstation separations and sign in procedures are being made.
We based this decision on the following information:
1) Our Daily Vaccination Tracker shows very high vaccination rates of people entering District Clay: 93.2% fully vaccinated, 6.5% partially vaccinated, .3% (one person) not yet vaccinated.
2) DC continues to be a top ranked state with a vaccination rate of 57% as of last Friday. Infection rates are now at 3 cases per 100,000 (the lowest of any state) and the R factor (at .77) indicates that infections will continue to decline. Since the Mayor announced that the city is completely re-opening, cases have declined by a further 59%.
3) In discussions with students about changing our mask policy, we have received only a few statements of concern.
4) Since District Clay re-opened in July, we have had over 12,500 single entry visits and only three reported cases of COVID infection. In all three of those reports, the infection incurred outside of District Clay and there was no spread inside of District Clay.
We want to stress three things for those with concerns:
1) If you so choose, wearing a mask, sanitizing and socially distancing will still provide the same protection as before* in the unlikely event an infectious person was to be present inside District Clay. (Medical authorities have determined that these steps are no longer required for fully vaccinated individuals.)
2) Studies continue to show that fully vaccinated individuals are at minimal risk of infection; that if infected, they are not able to spread infection because of low viral loads and that any infection is mild and usually asymptomatic. A recent study confirmed that vaccines strongly protect against the new Indian variant.
3) No one will ever be asked to remove a mask at District Clay.
5/20/21: Maskless Entry for Fully Vaccinated Individuals Beginning June 1st.
On Tuesday, Mayor Bowser announced that as of Friday, May 21st, the District of Columbia is lifting capacity restrictions for virtually all businesses (including learning institutions) and indoor mask requirements for fully vaccinated individuals. This follows similar moves by Virginia and Maryland and recommendations by the CDC. All but a few states will have either phased out or will phase out the same restrictions by June 1st.
We understand that transitioning out of restrictions can be anxiety provoking and that it will take time for everyone to adjust and we want to take that into account.
Here are our current plans:
1) District Clay plans to end its requirement that all persons must wear masks inside District Clay on Tuesday, June 1. At that time projections show that the District should reach a 60 percent vaccination rate. As of that day, fully vaccinated people (vaccination plus two weeks) can choose not to wear a mask inside of District Clay if they so desire. Non fully vaccinated people will continue to be required to wear a mask. We do not plan to ask for proof of vaccination.
2) Daily Vaccination Tracker at District Clay to begin: Between now and June 1st, we will be asking each person entering District Clay to anonymously indicate their vaccination status. We will share these statistics with you so that each person can make their own informed decision about wearing a mask inside District Clay after being fully vaccinated.
3) No changes to other safety protocols. We will make no changes to District Clay’s safety and distancing protocols: wheels and workstations will remain six feet apart in their current configurations, classes will remain at reduced levels and we will continue to our disinfecting and ventilation protocols.
We will continue to evaluate our plans as risk levels drop, vaccination rates rise and as results come in from our Daily Vaccination Tracker. Our intention is to gradually return the Center to full operating capacity over time.
Our goal is to create a smooth but steady transition that reflects the advice and guidance of public health authorities while giving everyone time to adjust to a new safer world.
The great news is that Washington DC is taking this step because of good news on all fronts.
On Tuesday, Mayor Bowser announced that as of Friday, May 21st, the District of Columbia is lifting capacity restrictions for virtually all businesses (including learning institutions) and indoor mask requirements for fully vaccinated individuals. This follows similar moves by Virginia and Maryland and recommendations by the CDC. All but a few states will have either phased out or will phase out the same restrictions by June 1st.
We understand that transitioning out of restrictions can be anxiety provoking and that it will take time for everyone to adjust and we want to take that into account.
Here are our current plans:
1) District Clay plans to end its requirement that all persons must wear masks inside District Clay on Tuesday, June 1. At that time projections show that the District should reach a 60 percent vaccination rate. As of that day, fully vaccinated people (vaccination plus two weeks) can choose not to wear a mask inside of District Clay if they so desire. Non fully vaccinated people will continue to be required to wear a mask. We do not plan to ask for proof of vaccination.
2) Daily Vaccination Tracker at District Clay to begin: Between now and June 1st, we will be asking each person entering District Clay to anonymously indicate their vaccination status. We will share these statistics with you so that each person can make their own informed decision about wearing a mask inside District Clay after being fully vaccinated.
3) No changes to other safety protocols. We will make no changes to District Clay’s safety and distancing protocols: wheels and workstations will remain six feet apart in their current configurations, classes will remain at reduced levels and we will continue to our disinfecting and ventilation protocols.
We will continue to evaluate our plans as risk levels drop, vaccination rates rise and as results come in from our Daily Vaccination Tracker. Our intention is to gradually return the Center to full operating capacity over time.
Our goal is to create a smooth but steady transition that reflects the advice and guidance of public health authorities while giving everyone time to adjust to a new safer world.
The great news is that Washington DC is taking this step because of good news on all fronts.
- DC vaccination rates are excellent (54% have received at least one dose) and are projected to hit 70% sometime in July.
- Case rates in DC and throughout the country are continuing to decline (in DC, they are now at the lowest rates since last July) and that decline is projected to continue.
- Multiple real-world studies have now confirmed that fully vaccinated individuals are strongly protected against being infected, appear to be 100% protected against serious illness and 100% protected against spreading infection. Also the vaccines show the same powerful protection against variants.
1/29/2021: District Clay Urges Students to Upgrade their Masks and Consider Double Masking at District Clay
With the advent of new more contagious strains of the coronavirus, District Clay sent the following email to its student body:
"Hi everyone,
As you probably know, we are entering a strange in-between time regarding the coronavirus.
More vaccines are being distributed everyday but it will be a couple months before most District Clay students and teachers are able to get their shots. By April, infections are predicted to be way way down provided current restrictions and social distancing rules remain in place.
At the same time, new more infectious strains of the coronavirus have appeared in the US and are predicted by the CDC to become the dominant strains by March. These strains are between 30 and 70 percent more infectious (right now, they do not appear to be more dangerous but data is still being collected.)
While the government has not made changes to the social distancing, sanitizing and other protocols that District Clay already follows, medical authorities are stressing that there is an easy way to keep yourself extra safe whenever you are indoors: wear a N95 (or a KN95 or N94*) mask and, even better, double mask. Here are some of the stats:
Percentage Filtration:
1) tightly woven cloth mask: 60-70% filtration
2) blue surgical mask: 70-80% filtration
3) cloth mask and blue surgical mask: >90% filtration
4) single N95, KN95 and N94: 95% filtration
5) other mask and N95/KN95/N94 mask: 99% filtration
To make things easier for DCC students, we are offering blue surgical masks for free at the front desk. Also, we have stocked up on KN95 masks and the price has dropped to $2 each (our cost).
While basic distancing practices recommendations (inside District Clay & elsewhere) remain unchanged, we recommend that you consider improving your mask and/or double masking whenever you are indoors over the next several months. The good news is the end is in sight if we all remain vigilant.
Other tips, reminders and information:
1) Turn on Exposure Notifications on your phone (usually in Settings) so that you are notified if you come into extended contact with someone who is infected.
2) If you see someone at DCC who is not following our Guidelines (6 foot distancing, sanitizing and disinfecting, mask wearing), please let a teacher or resident artist know.
3) Here are some recent news articles on the importance of masking:
New York Times Double Mask article
Washington Post Double Mask article
4) A reminder that you can suspend your class attendance at District Clay for any reason. This includes getting a positive test, being around someone who tested positive, getting a cold, traveling outside the area and self quarantining or simply because you do not feel comfortable being at District Clay. For a two week suspension, just notify membership and we will halt your classes. If you want to suspend your classes for longer than two weeks, we will issue you a credit for your remaining classes that you can use whenever you wish to return.
5) Cases at District Clay: Since reopening in August, District Clay has had two reported cases of people being infected with the coronavirus (Sept, Dec). Both infections occured outside of District Clay and no spread inside District Clay was reported. Both people have recovered.
6) You can follow stats about what is happening in the District by going here."
With the advent of new more contagious strains of the coronavirus, District Clay sent the following email to its student body:
"Hi everyone,
As you probably know, we are entering a strange in-between time regarding the coronavirus.
More vaccines are being distributed everyday but it will be a couple months before most District Clay students and teachers are able to get their shots. By April, infections are predicted to be way way down provided current restrictions and social distancing rules remain in place.
At the same time, new more infectious strains of the coronavirus have appeared in the US and are predicted by the CDC to become the dominant strains by March. These strains are between 30 and 70 percent more infectious (right now, they do not appear to be more dangerous but data is still being collected.)
While the government has not made changes to the social distancing, sanitizing and other protocols that District Clay already follows, medical authorities are stressing that there is an easy way to keep yourself extra safe whenever you are indoors: wear a N95 (or a KN95 or N94*) mask and, even better, double mask. Here are some of the stats:
Percentage Filtration:
1) tightly woven cloth mask: 60-70% filtration
2) blue surgical mask: 70-80% filtration
3) cloth mask and blue surgical mask: >90% filtration
4) single N95, KN95 and N94: 95% filtration
5) other mask and N95/KN95/N94 mask: 99% filtration
To make things easier for DCC students, we are offering blue surgical masks for free at the front desk. Also, we have stocked up on KN95 masks and the price has dropped to $2 each (our cost).
While basic distancing practices recommendations (inside District Clay & elsewhere) remain unchanged, we recommend that you consider improving your mask and/or double masking whenever you are indoors over the next several months. The good news is the end is in sight if we all remain vigilant.
Other tips, reminders and information:
1) Turn on Exposure Notifications on your phone (usually in Settings) so that you are notified if you come into extended contact with someone who is infected.
2) If you see someone at DCC who is not following our Guidelines (6 foot distancing, sanitizing and disinfecting, mask wearing), please let a teacher or resident artist know.
3) Here are some recent news articles on the importance of masking:
New York Times Double Mask article
Washington Post Double Mask article
4) A reminder that you can suspend your class attendance at District Clay for any reason. This includes getting a positive test, being around someone who tested positive, getting a cold, traveling outside the area and self quarantining or simply because you do not feel comfortable being at District Clay. For a two week suspension, just notify membership and we will halt your classes. If you want to suspend your classes for longer than two weeks, we will issue you a credit for your remaining classes that you can use whenever you wish to return.
5) Cases at District Clay: Since reopening in August, District Clay has had two reported cases of people being infected with the coronavirus (Sept, Dec). Both infections occured outside of District Clay and no spread inside District Clay was reported. Both people have recovered.
6) You can follow stats about what is happening in the District by going here."
12/18/2020: DC Imposes New Changes to Phase Two Guidelines - District Clay Not Impacted.
The DC government announced new changes to Phase Two guidelines including new restrictions on indoor dining at restaurants, closure of museums, some park center activities and libraries through January 15th. Retail establishments, gyms, hair salons did not receive new restrictions.
As before, District Clay contacted DC government and was not advised that it needs to close. According to DC government, District Clay falls under the guidelines for Schools: Adult Education which have not changed. District Clay classes and programs will continue but, as before, students are welcome to suspend classes if they wish by contacting our membership department: membership(at)districtclaycenter(dot)com.
The DC government announced new changes to Phase Two guidelines including new restrictions on indoor dining at restaurants, closure of museums, some park center activities and libraries through January 15th. Retail establishments, gyms, hair salons did not receive new restrictions.
As before, District Clay contacted DC government and was not advised that it needs to close. According to DC government, District Clay falls under the guidelines for Schools: Adult Education which have not changed. District Clay classes and programs will continue but, as before, students are welcome to suspend classes if they wish by contacting our membership department: membership(at)districtclaycenter(dot)com.
11/23/2020: DC Imposes Changes to Phase Two Guidelines - District Clay Not Impacted.
The DC government announced new changes to Phase Two guidelines including new restrictions on some indoor gatherings, houses of worship, indoor dining and indoor exercise classes.
District Clay confirmed with the DC government this afternoon that District Clay is not impacted by these changes and the guidelines that it follows for Schools: Adult Education have not changed. District Clay classes and programs will continue as usual.
The DC government announced new changes to Phase Two guidelines including new restrictions on some indoor gatherings, houses of worship, indoor dining and indoor exercise classes.
District Clay confirmed with the DC government this afternoon that District Clay is not impacted by these changes and the guidelines that it follows for Schools: Adult Education have not changed. District Clay classes and programs will continue as usual.
10/12/20: COVID Prep Survey Response and DCC Action Plan
On September 28, we surveyed DCC students and artists regarding our COVID measures and asked for concerns and suggestion for doing better. We received 56 responses which helped us create a COVID ACTION PLAN and ensure that District Clay is a safe place to play with clay. We are making numerous changes which are outlined below. Thanks to our students and artists for helping us and to Connor Czora and Jon Kerr for helping to implement these changes at District Clay.
We have also updated our Guidelines and Procedures.
DCC COVID IMPROVEMENT ACTION PLAN (all these to be completed by 10/19/2020)
1) Safety Refresher Course next week: Teachers will start all their classes with a Safety Refresher Course that will cover sign in procedures, cleaning and sanitizing workstations and tools and social distancing guidelines (including sink, pick-up and glaze tables).
2) New Teacher Guidelines: Teachers will be instructed to enforce social distancing guidelines by politely asking students to remember to distance themselves. They will also do increased monitoring of sinks during clean up and of the pickup and glaze areas.
3) New Procedures/Changes for Sink, Pick-up Shelves and Glaze Table: We will create new social distance markers for the sinks and pick up areas so that students can see where to wait while these areas are being used. We are adding new paper towel dispensers that are easier to use and more reliable contactless soap dispensers. We are moving the clay cubbies across from the sinks to provide more throughway space. Regarding the glaze table, we are moving most supplies/tools/underglazes off that table to a new glaze supply table so that people don't reach over other people when glazing.
4) New Anti-Crowding Measures: Each week we look at trends from our Traffic Tracker which is derived from our sign in sheets. To reduce crowding in the wheel rooms, we are opening a new Mini Wheel Room to all students, artists and drop-ins. This room has four socially distanced wheels and is located behind the entry desk and to the right as you enter the Center. We have also added new Open Studio time for students on Sundays from 5:30-8 pm. As we monitor traffic, we may restrict the number of drop ins during certain times of day.
5) Improved Sign-In Procedures and Equipment: We are making the Sign-In form easier to use and making it more clear in our instructions that you should sanitizer and wash your hands. We have ordered a wall mounted contactless forehead thermometer for that table.
6) KN95 masks now Available to Students: District Clay is now selling Powecom KN95 masks at cost ($3 each) to students. In terms of filtration ability, these masks are equivalent to N95 masks which provide the highest particulate filtration of 95% or higher and have been certified by the FDA. These are reusable masks but should be disposed of when dirty or air flow is reduced. They should not be washed. District Clay will supply a plastic bag with instructions that can be kept on the student's shelf.
7) New Sanitizer Stations: We are adding new sanitizer stations in the pickup areas and outside the District Clay Exit door in the glaze room.
8) Increased Airflow through the Center: We have added a large exhaust fan which circulates fresh air from the front of the Center to the rear at least eight times an hour, which meets or exceeds most guidelines for indoor air recirculation (the federal government has not yet published a standard.) We are also utilizing another exhaust fan in the kiln room to increase fresh air flow into the Center.
9) We are Repairing Wobbly Plexiglass Barriers in the Handbuilding Room.
10) New Self-Quarantine Rules: We have changed our procedures so that students who need to self-quarantine can do so multiple times during a 10-week session. Student classes will be suspended during self-quarantine.
11) Notification of Positive Cases: We want to clarify that we will immediately notify all people (students, DCC artists and drop ins) who come into close contact with any student, teacher or staff member who tests positive. Close contact is defined by the CDC as being within six feet of this person for an extended period of time (15 minutes or more). For example, the CDC does not consider someone who walks past someone who is infected to be at risk because they would not be exposed to enough virus to cause infection.
To apply this standard to District Clay, someone who was working in the wheel room or handbuilding room with someone who tested positive would immediately be notified while someone who was in another room at District Clay or at District Clay next day would not be notified. This is because airborne infection requires close and sustained contact; studies show the virus quickly degrades in open air. In addition, all teachers will be notified about a case and an Incident Report will be posted on the bulletin board by the bathrooms. In our sole positive case to date, we interviewed the student and the teacher within hours of being notified and notified all people in her class and with whom she had contact by the end of the day.
12) Put up a DCC Suggestion Box so we can get your comments, ideas, and concerns faster.
On September 28, we surveyed DCC students and artists regarding our COVID measures and asked for concerns and suggestion for doing better. We received 56 responses which helped us create a COVID ACTION PLAN and ensure that District Clay is a safe place to play with clay. We are making numerous changes which are outlined below. Thanks to our students and artists for helping us and to Connor Czora and Jon Kerr for helping to implement these changes at District Clay.
We have also updated our Guidelines and Procedures.
DCC COVID IMPROVEMENT ACTION PLAN (all these to be completed by 10/19/2020)
1) Safety Refresher Course next week: Teachers will start all their classes with a Safety Refresher Course that will cover sign in procedures, cleaning and sanitizing workstations and tools and social distancing guidelines (including sink, pick-up and glaze tables).
2) New Teacher Guidelines: Teachers will be instructed to enforce social distancing guidelines by politely asking students to remember to distance themselves. They will also do increased monitoring of sinks during clean up and of the pickup and glaze areas.
3) New Procedures/Changes for Sink, Pick-up Shelves and Glaze Table: We will create new social distance markers for the sinks and pick up areas so that students can see where to wait while these areas are being used. We are adding new paper towel dispensers that are easier to use and more reliable contactless soap dispensers. We are moving the clay cubbies across from the sinks to provide more throughway space. Regarding the glaze table, we are moving most supplies/tools/underglazes off that table to a new glaze supply table so that people don't reach over other people when glazing.
4) New Anti-Crowding Measures: Each week we look at trends from our Traffic Tracker which is derived from our sign in sheets. To reduce crowding in the wheel rooms, we are opening a new Mini Wheel Room to all students, artists and drop-ins. This room has four socially distanced wheels and is located behind the entry desk and to the right as you enter the Center. We have also added new Open Studio time for students on Sundays from 5:30-8 pm. As we monitor traffic, we may restrict the number of drop ins during certain times of day.
5) Improved Sign-In Procedures and Equipment: We are making the Sign-In form easier to use and making it more clear in our instructions that you should sanitizer and wash your hands. We have ordered a wall mounted contactless forehead thermometer for that table.
6) KN95 masks now Available to Students: District Clay is now selling Powecom KN95 masks at cost ($3 each) to students. In terms of filtration ability, these masks are equivalent to N95 masks which provide the highest particulate filtration of 95% or higher and have been certified by the FDA. These are reusable masks but should be disposed of when dirty or air flow is reduced. They should not be washed. District Clay will supply a plastic bag with instructions that can be kept on the student's shelf.
7) New Sanitizer Stations: We are adding new sanitizer stations in the pickup areas and outside the District Clay Exit door in the glaze room.
8) Increased Airflow through the Center: We have added a large exhaust fan which circulates fresh air from the front of the Center to the rear at least eight times an hour, which meets or exceeds most guidelines for indoor air recirculation (the federal government has not yet published a standard.) We are also utilizing another exhaust fan in the kiln room to increase fresh air flow into the Center.
9) We are Repairing Wobbly Plexiglass Barriers in the Handbuilding Room.
10) New Self-Quarantine Rules: We have changed our procedures so that students who need to self-quarantine can do so multiple times during a 10-week session. Student classes will be suspended during self-quarantine.
11) Notification of Positive Cases: We want to clarify that we will immediately notify all people (students, DCC artists and drop ins) who come into close contact with any student, teacher or staff member who tests positive. Close contact is defined by the CDC as being within six feet of this person for an extended period of time (15 minutes or more). For example, the CDC does not consider someone who walks past someone who is infected to be at risk because they would not be exposed to enough virus to cause infection.
To apply this standard to District Clay, someone who was working in the wheel room or handbuilding room with someone who tested positive would immediately be notified while someone who was in another room at District Clay or at District Clay next day would not be notified. This is because airborne infection requires close and sustained contact; studies show the virus quickly degrades in open air. In addition, all teachers will be notified about a case and an Incident Report will be posted on the bulletin board by the bathrooms. In our sole positive case to date, we interviewed the student and the teacher within hours of being notified and notified all people in her class and with whom she had contact by the end of the day.
12) Put up a DCC Suggestion Box so we can get your comments, ideas, and concerns faster.
9/29/2020: New Safety Steps, Update to COVID Guidelines, Including Notification Procedures if a Student Tests Positive
We added the following new information to our Covid Guidelines and Procedures:
Circulation of Fresh Air: We have purchased a large 3 foot exhaust fan to move fresh air through the studio. By opening our front door and windows and placing the fan in our loading dock door, we can now recycle fresh air thorugh the studio up to 8x an hour (the fan exhausts 13,300 cubic feet of air per minute out of the studio.)
Partitions: We have completed installing larger and longer partitions between our wheels (now 6 ft by 6 ft).
Sign in List: We have updated our sign in list so that we can track where students are working in the Center at any one time.
Class Credit Rules Updated: Any continuing student that does not feel comfortable at District Clay may suspend their classes at any time and receive a credit for unused classes. This credit will be good for up to two years.
Notification Procedures if a Student Notifies Us They Have Tested Positive:
Here are the steps District Clay will take if a DCC student notifies us they have tested positive for COVID-19. This also applies if someone is advised by a medical authority to self-quarantine.
1. We will immediately interview the person to find out: 1) when they were at District, 2) if they knew how they became infected, 3) if they were following DC guidelines, 4) if they were symptomatic or asymptomatic at the time, 5) who they interacted with and if they were closer than six feet when the interaction. We will also ask if we can share their name with the students in their class. We will write up a report on the incident.
2. We will immediately send a notice to all students in their class as well as any drop in students, to all DCC teachers and to anyone else they interacted with alerting them to the incident and passing on the incident report. If CDC guidelines indicate, we will recommend self-quarantine. We will send additional information about COVID 19 resources, testing and include a link to the CDC Self Checker.
3. We will post a report on the incident on the District Clay bulletin board.
To see our revised Guidelines go here.
We added the following new information to our Covid Guidelines and Procedures:
Circulation of Fresh Air: We have purchased a large 3 foot exhaust fan to move fresh air through the studio. By opening our front door and windows and placing the fan in our loading dock door, we can now recycle fresh air thorugh the studio up to 8x an hour (the fan exhausts 13,300 cubic feet of air per minute out of the studio.)
Partitions: We have completed installing larger and longer partitions between our wheels (now 6 ft by 6 ft).
Sign in List: We have updated our sign in list so that we can track where students are working in the Center at any one time.
Class Credit Rules Updated: Any continuing student that does not feel comfortable at District Clay may suspend their classes at any time and receive a credit for unused classes. This credit will be good for up to two years.
Notification Procedures if a Student Notifies Us They Have Tested Positive:
Here are the steps District Clay will take if a DCC student notifies us they have tested positive for COVID-19. This also applies if someone is advised by a medical authority to self-quarantine.
1. We will immediately interview the person to find out: 1) when they were at District, 2) if they knew how they became infected, 3) if they were following DC guidelines, 4) if they were symptomatic or asymptomatic at the time, 5) who they interacted with and if they were closer than six feet when the interaction. We will also ask if we can share their name with the students in their class. We will write up a report on the incident.
2. We will immediately send a notice to all students in their class as well as any drop in students, to all DCC teachers and to anyone else they interacted with alerting them to the incident and passing on the incident report. If CDC guidelines indicate, we will recommend self-quarantine. We will send additional information about COVID 19 resources, testing and include a link to the CDC Self Checker.
3. We will post a report on the incident on the District Clay bulletin board.
To see our revised Guidelines go here.
7/30/2020: Student Survey Results and Returning Student Comments
Student Survey Results:
Big thanks to the 171 DCC students who filled out our Restart Survey. The information is really helping us make sure the Center is safe as well as to plan for the future. Here are some of the results:
Regarding COVID-19 concerns, here are some clarifications about steps we have already taken plus some new steps we have taken based on student input.
You can see all the Survey results by going here.
Student Survey Results:
Big thanks to the 171 DCC students who filled out our Restart Survey. The information is really helping us make sure the Center is safe as well as to plan for the future. Here are some of the results:
- Of students who have returned to take classes, 87% felt safe or very safe (62% very safe). One student did not feel safe.
- Thanks for many kind comments from returning students, available for viewing here.
- About half of DCC students are restarting and half are putting their membership on hold or don't know if they will restart.
- In terms of new ways to play with clay, students were most interested in:
- Handbuilding from home (65 responses)
- Online classes (53 responses)
- Renting a wheel (51 responses)
- New ideas students came up with included:
- using wheels outdoors,
- additional open studio time by appointment
Regarding COVID-19 concerns, here are some clarifications about steps we have already taken plus some new steps we have taken based on student input.
- Masks are MANDATORY AT ALL TIMES.
- People must line up at marked six foot intervals to clean to their tools or to enter the studio (new).
- The HEPA 99.7% filtration units in the wheel rooms run 24/7 and completely filter the air 96 times each day.
- We are adding taller and wider partitions in the wheel rooms (new: in process).
- Only two people are now allowed at one time in the glazing room (new).
- Glazing and wedging tables must be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
- We are monitoring drop ins and if one time gets too busy, we will halt them during that time period.
- We are now selling personal tool kits for students who wish to use them.
- If you need to be absent because of self-quarantine or illness for more than two weeks, we will give you a credit for your unused classes until you can return.
- We are asking people to let us know if they become infected so we can notify students in their classes (new).
You can see all the Survey results by going here.
7/11/20: Comments from students and a health care practitioner on the new District Clay:
As a healthcare professional and as a person on the front line who has cared for COVID19 patients, I can say with confidence that the steps District Clay has taken to ensure the safety of our students and instructors make me feel safe. The universal use of face masks, temperature taking, hand washing, and social distancing in large well-ventilated spaces are all in line with local and federal agencies.  HEPA filtered air in the wheel rooms goes one step further. They have taken extra care to provide a safe experience by reducing class sizes, building personal glaze stations, and creating an easy to follow disinfection protocol for wheels and tools to make sure that everyone is protected during the age of COVID19.
Cole Norton, Certified Nursing Assistant & District Clay Teacher
Kudos to DCC for doing everything and more to ensure we are safe and fully protected during this tough time. It starts with taking our temperature, washing our hands, and masks for all, using tools washed in disinfectant solution. Every surface and tool is disinfected. The wheels are separated by physical divisions creating self contained places to wedge, throw, trim, use wax and underglaze. Everyone is masked and six feet apart. I feel very comfortable, I have been going for two weeks and will continue. I am strict and maintain myself on lockdown because I see my 93 year old mother once a week (masked ad six feet) and I don’t believe DCC as it’s set up, compromises these visits. Thank you DCC!
Maria Otero, Wednesday morning wheel
I was back for the first time this morning. I am so impressed with everything you guys have done. It felt completely safe. It was wonderful to be back! Thank you!!
Gemma Flamberg, Sunday morning wheel
The Center's looking great! You and your team have done an incredible job making it safe, plus all the new and improved glazes coming,
library book recommendations, etc. You've made good use of the closure.
Anne Shoemaker, DCC Artist
As a healthcare professional and as a person on the front line who has cared for COVID19 patients, I can say with confidence that the steps District Clay has taken to ensure the safety of our students and instructors make me feel safe. The universal use of face masks, temperature taking, hand washing, and social distancing in large well-ventilated spaces are all in line with local and federal agencies.  HEPA filtered air in the wheel rooms goes one step further. They have taken extra care to provide a safe experience by reducing class sizes, building personal glaze stations, and creating an easy to follow disinfection protocol for wheels and tools to make sure that everyone is protected during the age of COVID19.
Cole Norton, Certified Nursing Assistant & District Clay Teacher
Kudos to DCC for doing everything and more to ensure we are safe and fully protected during this tough time. It starts with taking our temperature, washing our hands, and masks for all, using tools washed in disinfectant solution. Every surface and tool is disinfected. The wheels are separated by physical divisions creating self contained places to wedge, throw, trim, use wax and underglaze. Everyone is masked and six feet apart. I feel very comfortable, I have been going for two weeks and will continue. I am strict and maintain myself on lockdown because I see my 93 year old mother once a week (masked ad six feet) and I don’t believe DCC as it’s set up, compromises these visits. Thank you DCC!
Maria Otero, Wednesday morning wheel
I was back for the first time this morning. I am so impressed with everything you guys have done. It felt completely safe. It was wonderful to be back! Thank you!!
Gemma Flamberg, Sunday morning wheel
The Center's looking great! You and your team have done an incredible job making it safe, plus all the new and improved glazes coming,
library book recommendations, etc. You've made good use of the closure.
Anne Shoemaker, DCC Artist
7/4: District Clay Restarts Classes in New Safe, Socially Distanced Center
- New CREATEIT 10% Off Discount for New Students in July
District Clay has created a new safe, socially distanced Center for people to play with clay. This includes socially distanced wheels and work areas, new entry requirements including masks and temperature taking, new cleaning and disinfecting protocols and new staggered class times and schedules and smaller class sizes. See below for detailed information.
We are gradually restarting classes during the month of July. We are also offering a 10% CREATEIT discount for new students who sign up in July. To find out more about our classes and to see a class schedule, please go here.
District Clay Re-Opening Guidelines and Procedures (7/30 vers.)
District Clay is following CDC Guidelines and District of Columbia Phase Two Mandates. Our objective is to create a safe and secure place for people to play with clay. Here are some of the steps we have implemented:
New Entry and Use Requirements for Students, DCC Artists and Teachers
Disinfecting and Cleaning Guidelines
New Drop in Rules:
- New CREATEIT 10% Off Discount for New Students in July
District Clay has created a new safe, socially distanced Center for people to play with clay. This includes socially distanced wheels and work areas, new entry requirements including masks and temperature taking, new cleaning and disinfecting protocols and new staggered class times and schedules and smaller class sizes. See below for detailed information.
We are gradually restarting classes during the month of July. We are also offering a 10% CREATEIT discount for new students who sign up in July. To find out more about our classes and to see a class schedule, please go here.
District Clay Re-Opening Guidelines and Procedures (7/30 vers.)
District Clay is following CDC Guidelines and District of Columbia Phase Two Mandates. Our objective is to create a safe and secure place for people to play with clay. Here are some of the steps we have implemented:
- Wheels and handbuilding stations are now six feet apart with partitions. Each wheel station now has individual wedging and waxing stations. Six-foot distancing markers are placed on the floor through the Center, including at sinks and entry areas.
- We are increasing the height and length of many of our partitions (7/30).
- Our Large Wheel Room features M-25 HEPA Air King Filtration units which filter the room air to 99.97% (higher filtration than an N-95 mask) four times an hour, 96x a day. Also, we have placed fans to circulate air from our small wheel room into this room.
- Contactless sanitizer and soap dispensers are provided.
- District Clay supplies all necessary tools for students but students may bring their own tools or purchase a quality eight piece Kemper tool kit for $20.
- We have reduced our class sizes and spread out our wheels - our max class size is now 12 and wheels are spread out . All wheels are at least six feet apart but students may choose wheels which are further apart if they wish.
- Rooms now have occupancy restrictions:
- Big Wheel Room – 11 wheels and 1 teacher wheel
- New Small Wheel Room (formerly Gallery/Lounge area) – 8 wheels and 1 teacher wheel
- New Handbuilding Room (formerly the Small Wheel Room) – 8 handbuilding stations and one teacher station
- Cone 10 glaze room (formerly the handbuilding room) – max occupancy of two people.
- Class times have changed and are now staggered to give students time to enter and exit while maintaining social distancing. Students now enter through the side door and exit through the glaze room door. The front door is closed
- New students may get a 100% refund after their first visit if they do not feel comfortable. They may get a 50% refund if they let us know by their third class.
- Class are restarting gradually during the month of July. Please review our class schedule start times and dates.
- Current DCC students who do not wish to restart their classes at this time will be given a transferable credit for their remaining classes that will be good for two years. We are not able to give refunds at this time.
- Current DCC students will be contacted one week prior to their class restarting.
- Class suspensions because of illness or self-quarantine:
- Students may suspend classes for up to two weeks because of illness or self-quarantine
- Students who need to absent for longer than two weeks because of COVID-19 (either self quarantine or illness) will receive a credit for any unused classes.
- If the virus resurges in the District and District Clay is ordered to close, your classes will be suspended and you can restart when we re-open or receive a credit for any remaining classes.
New Entry and Use Requirements for Students, DCC Artists and Teachers
- Anyone entering District Clay must:
- Sanitize & wash their hands
- Get a temperature check using a no contact forehead thermometer. Anyone with temperatures over 100.4 degrees will not be admitted.
- Review Do Not Enter Guidelines
- Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, diarrhea or nausea, temperature over 100.4 degrees
- Sign in so that we can create a contact list. We ask that any DCC student who becomes infected or believes they have been infected to contact us immediately.
- Masks MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES when at District Clay
- Disposable masks and gloves will be provided to DCC students upon request
Disinfecting and Cleaning Guidelines
- The last 30 minutes of class are reserved for clean-up and disinfecting.
- Students may be asked to clean up and disinfect in shifts.
- District Clay uses EPA approved disinfectants.
- Student will clean up at their stations and disinfect their wheels, tools and bats.
- Common area glaze and wedging tables must be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
- District Clay staff will disinfect common areas of the studio daily.
New Drop in Rules:
- Drop ins are free but because of reduced number of classes, please check our current class schedule. This includes Sunday Open Studio from 12:40 to 3:10 pm and Mon/Wed mornings from 10-12:30 pm.
- Drop ins may be suspended during certain times if too many people drop in; District Clay is actively monitoring room occupancy rates.
5/29: District entered PHASE ONE today and non-essential business such as District Clay remain closed.
District Clay in person classes will begin to resume when the District enters PHASE TWO. Our class schedules, number of students in a class and class configurations will change. We do not yet have a date for PHASE TWO. Please stay tuned.
District Clay in person classes will begin to resume when the District enters PHASE TWO. Our class schedules, number of students in a class and class configurations will change. We do not yet have a date for PHASE TWO. Please stay tuned.
5/15: District Clay Adds New Online Classes for May-June
People are loving these new ways to SEIZE THE CLAY from home. Go here to see our new classes.
People are loving these new ways to SEIZE THE CLAY from home. Go here to see our new classes.
5/13: Mayor Bowser Extends Non-Essential Business Closures to June 8.
5/1: District Clay Creates Online Classes for the Month of May.
District Clay has launched a series of online classes for kids and adults for the month of May. These classes will help us pay our rent and support our teachers most in need. Thanks to Jon Kerr, Jill Ross Meeks, Liz Lockett and Rebecca Hutchinson for creating these creative events for potters at home.
Go here to see our (growing) list of ways to SEIZE THE CLAY at home.
District Clay has launched a series of online classes for kids and adults for the month of May. These classes will help us pay our rent and support our teachers most in need. Thanks to Jon Kerr, Jill Ross Meeks, Liz Lockett and Rebecca Hutchinson for creating these creative events for potters at home.
Go here to see our (growing) list of ways to SEIZE THE CLAY at home.
4/15: Mayor Bowser Extended the Closure of Non-Essential Businesses to May 15
Mayor Bowser extended the closure of non-essential business as well as stay at home directives until May 15. District Clay will remain closed until at least that time.
Mayor Bowser extended the closure of non-essential business as well as stay at home directives until May 15. District Clay will remain closed until at least that time.
3/25: District Clay Closes Center to Artist Access
Per Mayor Bowser's order that non-essential businesses in the District of Columbia must close, District Clay will close at 5 pm today to artist access. (Classes had previously been cancelled). Unless this order is extended, District Clay will re-open on April 25th.
Per Mayor Bowser's order that non-essential businesses in the District of Columbia must close, District Clay will close at 5 pm today to artist access. (Classes had previously been cancelled). Unless this order is extended, District Clay will re-open on April 25th.
3/17: District Clay Disinfects Center, Creates Mandatory Safety Protocols, Redesigns Classrooms for Social Distancing.
On Monday, March 16th, District Clay closed until further notice. On that same day, it's staff disinfected the entire center, re-arranged classroom space to create 6 feet between wheels and established Mandatory Safety Protocols for DCC renters who wish to use the Center .
We want to thank the following people for helping to create a safe space at District Clay: David DaSilva, Cole Norton, Hope Salome, Kit Ruseau, Connor Czora, Maddy Rothman, Steve Abate, Lisan Swanson and Julia Hurst. They did a magnificent job in a big team effort (pics below).
This is what they did:
1) Disinfected with a bleach solution: the floors, wheels, tables, all tools, bats & sponges, glaze buckets, kitchen, coffee and lounge areas etc.
2) Re-arranged the big and small wheel rooms so that all wheels are at least 6 ft apart. The big wheel room went from 18 wheels to 6 wheels and the small wheel room went from 10 wheels to 4 wheels. We added wheels to the gallery room, the lounge area and the mold making room.
3) Created Mandatory Safety Protocols for DCC renters who wish access to the Center. These protocols include self disinfecting tools and work areas after each use. These protocols have been posted throughout the Center and to the front door.
Mandatory Safety Protocols for Use of District Clay Center by DCC renters, 3/16
No Admittance Policy:
· Anyone with a cough, who is sneezing, has a cough or a fever is not allowed to use District Clay’s facilities.
· Anyone who has had close contact* with someone who has the virus or is strongly suspected of having the virus should self-quarantine for 14 days.
Use of District Clay Facilities:
· Upon entering District Clay, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
· Keep a six-foot distance between yourself and other members.
· Use only disinfected tools.
· Before exiting, disinfect your tools, sponges, bats, and work surfaces, including the wheel head and wheel area per District Clay instructions at the Disinfection Station by the Sinks.
· If you see someone who you think is not following these instructions, please let your teacher or a resident artist know.
District Clay Center Workstudy Disinfection Protocols:
· District Clay will disinfect sinks, doorknobs, tables, screens and other common area multiple times a day.
· We will also be adding disinfectant to autoscrub and floor mopping operations. Please note that disinfection protocols call for an area to remain wet for 5 minutes before being wiped dry.
*Close contact is defined by the CDC as having cared for or lived with a person known to have the virus or having a high likelihood of direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a patient known to have virus. Examples include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (within 3 feet), physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between people. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a person or briefly sitting across a waiting room or office. (CDC definition issued for the SARS virus at https://www.cdc.gov/sars/about/faq.html.)
On Monday, March 16th, District Clay closed until further notice. On that same day, it's staff disinfected the entire center, re-arranged classroom space to create 6 feet between wheels and established Mandatory Safety Protocols for DCC renters who wish to use the Center .
We want to thank the following people for helping to create a safe space at District Clay: David DaSilva, Cole Norton, Hope Salome, Kit Ruseau, Connor Czora, Maddy Rothman, Steve Abate, Lisan Swanson and Julia Hurst. They did a magnificent job in a big team effort (pics below).
This is what they did:
1) Disinfected with a bleach solution: the floors, wheels, tables, all tools, bats & sponges, glaze buckets, kitchen, coffee and lounge areas etc.
2) Re-arranged the big and small wheel rooms so that all wheels are at least 6 ft apart. The big wheel room went from 18 wheels to 6 wheels and the small wheel room went from 10 wheels to 4 wheels. We added wheels to the gallery room, the lounge area and the mold making room.
3) Created Mandatory Safety Protocols for DCC renters who wish access to the Center. These protocols include self disinfecting tools and work areas after each use. These protocols have been posted throughout the Center and to the front door.
Mandatory Safety Protocols for Use of District Clay Center by DCC renters, 3/16
No Admittance Policy:
· Anyone with a cough, who is sneezing, has a cough or a fever is not allowed to use District Clay’s facilities.
· Anyone who has had close contact* with someone who has the virus or is strongly suspected of having the virus should self-quarantine for 14 days.
Use of District Clay Facilities:
· Upon entering District Clay, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
· Keep a six-foot distance between yourself and other members.
· Use only disinfected tools.
· Before exiting, disinfect your tools, sponges, bats, and work surfaces, including the wheel head and wheel area per District Clay instructions at the Disinfection Station by the Sinks.
· If you see someone who you think is not following these instructions, please let your teacher or a resident artist know.
District Clay Center Workstudy Disinfection Protocols:
· District Clay will disinfect sinks, doorknobs, tables, screens and other common area multiple times a day.
· We will also be adding disinfectant to autoscrub and floor mopping operations. Please note that disinfection protocols call for an area to remain wet for 5 minutes before being wiped dry.
*Close contact is defined by the CDC as having cared for or lived with a person known to have the virus or having a high likelihood of direct contact with respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a patient known to have virus. Examples include kissing or embracing, sharing eating or drinking utensils, close conversation (within 3 feet), physical examination, and any other direct physical contact between people. Close contact does not include activities such as walking by a person or briefly sitting across a waiting room or office. (CDC definition issued for the SARS virus at https://www.cdc.gov/sars/about/faq.html.)
3/15: District Clay Suspends Classes
District Clay is suspending classes, one shots and workshops for the next two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We are doing this because we want people to feel safe in our space and we want to do our part to reduce the spread of the virus. During these two weeks, we will also be creating opportunities for current students who want to work with clay to use the Center on a limited basis.
In the expectation that this pandemic will continue for several months, on Monday, 3/16, we will be making significant changes to District Clay workspaces that are in line with current government guidelines. Our goal is to create a safe space where you feel comfortable working with clay and which also ensures that our teachers and staff get paid and the Center remains viable.
· All classes are suspended beginning Monday, March 16th for two weeks.
· On Monday afternoon, we will reconfigure our studio space to meet social distancing guidelines and introduce mandatory disinfectant protocols for students who wish to continue to work with clay (more below).
· While classes are suspended, we will soon let students know of opportunities to use the Center on a limited basis.
· We will tentatively plan on re-starting our regular class schedule on Monday, March 30.
We will keep you updated as District Clay's conversion moves forward.
Thank you for your understanding. Stay safe during these extraordinary times.
Cass Johnson
Executive Director
How we will modify District Clay to create a safe environment during the outbreak.
1) Admittance Restrictions: Anyone with a cough, fever or who is sneezing will not be permitted to use District Clay's space.
2) Social Distancing: District Clay will create (CDC recommended) six feet of space between our wheels and work stations. (We are fortunate that we have enough space to re-arrange our classes. We will close the gallery and lounge and move wheels from the large and small wheels into those spaces. Each wheel will have six feet of separation. We will also split up our handbuilding and mold making classes to use other rooms.)
3) Mandatory Disinfectant Protocols. Students will be required to follow mandatory disinfectant protocols to disinfect their tools, sponges and individual work surfaces. This is a simple CDC approved operation using bleach diluted in water.
4) District Clay will disinfect common spaces and surfaces multiple times a day.
How We Came to this Decision:
We came to this decision following 1) discussions with our student body and review of CDC/government advisories and 2) review of current transmissibility data about the virus.
1) Discussions with our student body and government advisories
We spent the weekend talking to students and artists and reviewing CDC and District Guidelines about the current situation. Here are our observations:
· Many students said they wanted to continue to use District Clay but were supportive of the need to close.
· Many businesses are asking employees to work from home for the next two weeks and to apply social distancing techniques. Many large institutions such as schools, museums, sporting venues and theatres are closing for two weeks. A large number (but not all) pottery studios are closing for two weeks. Other publicly oriented groups such as restaurants, theatres, gyms, yoga studios etc are staying open but are creating distance between seats, disinfecting surfaces etc.
· Neither the CDC, nor the District of Columbia health services has recommended that organizations the size of the District Clay close. Right now the District has prohibited gatherings of larger than 500 people and that CDC says "large events" should be cancelled.
2) About Transmission: Social Distance is Key.
According to the latest data, coronavirus is mainly spread by being within six feet of someone who sneezes or coughs or touches you.
This is why social distancing is so important. If you are sick, stay home. If you exhibit symptoms (cough, sneezing, fever) stay home.
According to the CDC, the virus is thought "mainly to be spread person to person between people who are in close contact with one another (with six feet). The primary vector is respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes." While it appears that people who are asymptomatic may also spread the virus, the likelihood of transmission is considered significantly less because of reduced viral load (see A below). Concurrently, transmission of the virus through touching contaminated surfaces is thought to be theoretically possible but is unlikely as the viral load and the virus' efficacy declines quickly when exposed to air (see B below).
(A) WHO, Situation Report 46, p. 2
(B) Washington Post, 3/15/2020
District Clay is suspending classes, one shots and workshops for the next two weeks in response to the coronavirus pandemic. We are doing this because we want people to feel safe in our space and we want to do our part to reduce the spread of the virus. During these two weeks, we will also be creating opportunities for current students who want to work with clay to use the Center on a limited basis.
In the expectation that this pandemic will continue for several months, on Monday, 3/16, we will be making significant changes to District Clay workspaces that are in line with current government guidelines. Our goal is to create a safe space where you feel comfortable working with clay and which also ensures that our teachers and staff get paid and the Center remains viable.
· All classes are suspended beginning Monday, March 16th for two weeks.
· On Monday afternoon, we will reconfigure our studio space to meet social distancing guidelines and introduce mandatory disinfectant protocols for students who wish to continue to work with clay (more below).
· While classes are suspended, we will soon let students know of opportunities to use the Center on a limited basis.
· We will tentatively plan on re-starting our regular class schedule on Monday, March 30.
We will keep you updated as District Clay's conversion moves forward.
Thank you for your understanding. Stay safe during these extraordinary times.
Cass Johnson
Executive Director
How we will modify District Clay to create a safe environment during the outbreak.
1) Admittance Restrictions: Anyone with a cough, fever or who is sneezing will not be permitted to use District Clay's space.
2) Social Distancing: District Clay will create (CDC recommended) six feet of space between our wheels and work stations. (We are fortunate that we have enough space to re-arrange our classes. We will close the gallery and lounge and move wheels from the large and small wheels into those spaces. Each wheel will have six feet of separation. We will also split up our handbuilding and mold making classes to use other rooms.)
3) Mandatory Disinfectant Protocols. Students will be required to follow mandatory disinfectant protocols to disinfect their tools, sponges and individual work surfaces. This is a simple CDC approved operation using bleach diluted in water.
4) District Clay will disinfect common spaces and surfaces multiple times a day.
How We Came to this Decision:
We came to this decision following 1) discussions with our student body and review of CDC/government advisories and 2) review of current transmissibility data about the virus.
1) Discussions with our student body and government advisories
We spent the weekend talking to students and artists and reviewing CDC and District Guidelines about the current situation. Here are our observations:
· Many students said they wanted to continue to use District Clay but were supportive of the need to close.
· Many businesses are asking employees to work from home for the next two weeks and to apply social distancing techniques. Many large institutions such as schools, museums, sporting venues and theatres are closing for two weeks. A large number (but not all) pottery studios are closing for two weeks. Other publicly oriented groups such as restaurants, theatres, gyms, yoga studios etc are staying open but are creating distance between seats, disinfecting surfaces etc.
· Neither the CDC, nor the District of Columbia health services has recommended that organizations the size of the District Clay close. Right now the District has prohibited gatherings of larger than 500 people and that CDC says "large events" should be cancelled.
2) About Transmission: Social Distance is Key.
According to the latest data, coronavirus is mainly spread by being within six feet of someone who sneezes or coughs or touches you.
This is why social distancing is so important. If you are sick, stay home. If you exhibit symptoms (cough, sneezing, fever) stay home.
According to the CDC, the virus is thought "mainly to be spread person to person between people who are in close contact with one another (with six feet). The primary vector is respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes." While it appears that people who are asymptomatic may also spread the virus, the likelihood of transmission is considered significantly less because of reduced viral load (see A below). Concurrently, transmission of the virus through touching contaminated surfaces is thought to be theoretically possible but is unlikely as the viral load and the virus' efficacy declines quickly when exposed to air (see B below).
(A) WHO, Situation Report 46, p. 2
(B) Washington Post, 3/15/2020
THANKS TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO GAVE EXTRA SUPPORT
TO DISTRICT CLAY IN 2020.
Our Great Landlords at Off the Beaten Track Warehouse:
Wendy Hauenstein and Greg Kimbell |
DCC TEACHERS WHO HAVE CREATED ONLINE CLASSES:
Jon Kerr |
Liz Lockett |
Cassie Lawlor |
Jill Ross Meltzer |
DCC STAFF WHO DONATED THEIR SALARY AND/OR WORK/STUDY PAY:
Rebecca Gitter |
Liz Lockett |
Jill Ross Meltzer |
Cole Norton |
Esther Robbins |
DCC ARTISTS AND STUDENTS WHO HAVE DONATED THEIR REGULAR FEES:
Rebecca Barney |
Rebecca Bellay |
Jerusha Burnett |
Carrie Costa |
Catherine Cullen |
Wendy DeCourcey |
Sue Decker |
Dave Easter |
Gaby Goldstein |
Wade Lindsey |
Spence Nelson |
Maria Otero |
Linda Owens |
John Riley |
Esther Robbins |
Courtney Shaw |
Ann Tihansky |
Lloyd Greenberg |
Julia Hurst |
Ed DeGaiffier |
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DISTRICT CLAY STUDENTS AND ARTIST WHO HAVE RENTED WHEELS:
Steve Abate |
Eric Anthony |
Nicolette Amstutz |
Madeleine Bensen |
Cameron Blake |
Danielle Garfinkel |
Jacob Hensley |
Marcey Hoelting |
Abbe Horswill |
Naa Inyang |
Joseph Kim |
Kiana Moore |
Linda Owens |
Kate Osterloh |
K-Sue Park |
Sam Pollard |
Esther Robbins |
Marcy Rice |
Allison Sweet |
Nick Silverson |
Mary Jane Tiederman |
Haley Wasserman |
Emily Walz |
Haley Wasserman |
Emily Weaver |
Natalie Williamson |
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We Want to Gratefully Acknowledge the Following Government Programs that Providing Important Assistance:
DC Government Microgrants & Resiliency Program |
The Paycheck Protection Program & the Emergency Grant Program from the Small Business Administration |
