FAQs

What is TJ Studios Wheel Time? Wheel Time sessions are for potters that have previous experience working in a ceramics studio or have taken one of our pottery classes (or equivalent) and need a studio to create and relax. Individuals will work independently and at their own pace since there are no instructions provided.

Why must I have experience using a pottery wheel? Wheel time is for individuals with experience in pottery because there will be no instructors present to teach you pottery basics. Having basic experience using the equipment helps us to ensure the safety of all present. If you are experienced and new to our pottery studio, you will need to contact the Studio Tech prior to registering at hailstock@arlingtonva.us or 703-228-5925

How do I register for Wheel Time?

1. Click here: https://registration.arlingtonva.us
2. Log into your household account or set up a household account. 
3. Click on "Activities" located on the blue banner at top of page
4. Scroll right to TJ Art Studios
5. Select Wheel Time and scroll down to the calendar and select day and time.
6. Follow the prompts to check out

When can I register for a Wheel Time session?  You may register no sooner than 7 days in advance and up until 2 hours prior to your session.

Can I register for multiple sessions?  Yes, but we recommend registering for (1) session at a time since wheels are limited.

How do I cancel my session reservation? Will I get a refund? To cancel, go to registration.arlingtonva.us and login to your account. Click on activities, select cancel timeslot. Select timeslot to cancel and continue with cancellation. Follow prompts to complete your cancellation Yes, you can cancel 48 hours prior to your session. You can have the session applied to your household account to be used for future sessions. If you would like the money refunded to your credit card or by check, contact the registration office at 703-228-4747 after you have completed the online cancelation process.

If I cancel my session, will I get a refund? Yes, if you cancel 48 hours prior to your session, the money will be applied to your household account to be used for future sessions. If you would prefer that the money be refunded to your credit card or by check, contact the registration office at 703-228-4747 after you have completed the online cancelation process.  Please note: If you cancel a session after the 48-hour deadline, you will not receive a refund or household credit.

Will I get a refund or household credit if the studio cancels the session? Yes! Cancellations made by TJ Art Studios due to low enrollment will receive a refund or household credit.  Cancellations may occur due to low enrollment, inclement weather, conflicts with other programs or instructor availability.

Can I use a current multi-pass art studio card? (this is different from a class pass)  Effective July 1, 2021, we will no longer offer multi-pass studio passes. Please contact Homer Ailstock if you have a multi-pass with unused sessions and he will work with you to credit your household account.

I have a class pass left from previous classes. Can I use my class pass for these sessions?  No, class passes are no longer valid. Students who were enrolled in classes last spring were issued refunds/household credits, if eligible.

Can I bring my own clay? No. Clay must be purchased at the studio. No outside clay please! Clay is $16 per 25lb bag.

How do I purchase clay? You can purchase clay when you register by answering the question “will you be purchasing clay?”. You can also purchase clay on-site when you check in. Note: unlimited clay is included in the class fee.

What do I need to bring? Bring all your tools, towels and anything you will need to work. There will be limited access to shared supplies for each session. We will have bats, ware-boards, buckets, sponges, brushes to use for each session.

What are TJ Art Studios safety protocols? Effective Thursday, March 3, 2022, Arlington County will no longer require masks for the public and most employees while inside County government facilities. Individuals may choose to wear a mask based on personal preference and level of risk of developing severe illness. We have limited the number of people in the studio to a maximum of ten (10) patrons. Hand-sanitizer will be available, as well as sinks to wash your hands. Shared tools and high-touch areas will be cleaned and wiped down after each session. Air filter will be on during each session. Please email hailstock@arlingtonva.us  for our Pottery Studio and Safety Guidelines.

What is Independent Study: Woodshop? Independent Study is an opportunity for those with previous woodworking experience to use our well-equipped woodshop for your own projects. We have table saws, jointer, planer, band saws, drill press, mitre saw, router, sanders and a variety of hand tools.  These sessions are not instructional, but a qualified studio tech is available to answer questions and ensure safe use of the tools and equipment.

Why must I have experience to use the woodshop? Experience and knowledge are important for the safety of self, others, equipment, and tools while working in the woodshop.  Participants are expected to have experience to work independently on their own. 

New to TJ woodshop? If you are new to our woodshop and would like to participate in Independent Study, please contact the Studio Tech, Homer Ailstock, at hailstock@arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-5925 prior to registering.

How do I register? It is best to use Chrome, Firefox or Safari as your internet browser.

1. Go to registration.arlingtonva.us
2. Log in to your household account. If you do not have one, you will need to set-up a new household account.
3. Click on the word "Activities" in the solid blue banner below "Parks & Recreation" heading
4. In the blue dropdown menu that opens up, on the right, look for "TJ Art Studios". Below that, find the word "WOODSHOP" and click on it.
5. In the new pop-up, scroll down until you see the calendar and select (click on) the day and time for the Independent Study session you would like to attend and add to cart
6. Follow the prompts to check out

When can I register? You may register up to 14 days in advance of your session but no later than 2 days in advance. Independent Study sessions require a minimum of (5) registered participants for a session to GO. To ensure you are counted towards that minimum, it is best that you register by Monday 4 p.m. for the following Wednesd­ay session, and by Thursday 4 p.m. for the following Saturday session. 

Can I register for multiple sessions? Yes, but we recommend registering for 1-2 sessions at a time since space is limited.

How do I cancel my session? To cancel, go to registration.arlingtonva.us and login to your account. Click on ACTIVITIES in the blue banner, select cancel timeslot. Select timeslot to cancel and continue with cancellation. Follow prompts to complete your cancellation

If I cancel my session, will I get a refund? Yes, if you cancel 48 hours prior to your session, the money will be applied to your household account to be used for future sessions. If you would prefer that the money be refunded to your credit card or by check, contact the registration office at 703-228-4747 after you have completed the online cancelation process.  Please note: If you cancel a session after the 48-hour deadline, you will not receive a refund or household credit.

 Will I get a refund or household credit if the studio cancels the session? Yes! Cancellations made by TJ Art Studios due to low enrollment will receive a refund or household credit.  Cancellations may occur due to low enrollment, inclement weather, conflicts with other programs or instructor availability.

 What should I bring? Please keep in mind that no treated lumber or reclaimed wood is allowed in the TJ woodshop. Bring your own wood for your project, and your own safety glasses and ear plugs, as we are currently limiting shared supplies.

Is there storage space? Space is very limited in the woodshop. We have some shelves for our class programs, but individual space/shelves are not available.

 How do I get into TJ Art Studios? Enter through the main doors at TJ, turn left towards the community center. Check in with the front desk and they will direct you to the studios. Just a reminder, you must wear a mask/face covering to enter any County Facility.

 What are TJ Art Studios Covid-19 safety protocols? Effective Thursday, March 3, 2022, Arlington County will no longer require masks for the public and most employees while inside County government facilities. Individuals may choose to wear a mask based on personal preference and level of risk of developing severe illness. TJ Art Studios are taking the following steps to ensure as much safety as possible while operating a shared space.  Hand-sanitizer will be available, as well as sinks to wash your hands. Shared tools and high-touch areas will be cleaned and wiped down after each session. Air filter will be on during each session.

What happens if I miss a class? We do not provide refunds or make-up sessions for students who miss a class. Participants may not attend any other classes other than the one they are registered for. Classes canceled due to inclement weather, building closure or instructor illness; a make-up class will be added at the end of the quarter. If makeup classes are not possible, prorated refunds will be issued for cancelled classes.

Can I bring my friend / other child to the class? No. Only registered participants are permitted in the classroom /studio space during class. This is a safety issue.  For classes where a child and parent participate together, each participant must be accompanied by one adult (parent, grandparent or care provider) For families with multiple children one adult must accompany each registered child. The maximum number of children per family/two adults is 3.

Can I sit in and watch my child during class? Typically, we find it less distracting when parents/guardians wait outside the classroom during the class session, but they are welcome to observe as long as it is not disruptive to the class.  Parents are not obligated to wait in the building.

How should I (or my child) dress for class? Please dress appropriately.

• Some disciplines are messier than others, and even though art materials may be labeled “water soluble and washable”, clothing may become dirty or stained.
• We are not responsible for damaged clothing.
• For safety reasons, closed toe shoes must be worn and long hair tied back. (this is especially true for wood shop, jewelry and pottery classes)
• Participants are free to bring smocks, aprons or other protective clothing. We do not provide these items or garments.

How early can I show up for class? Students are not permitted in the classroom earlier than 10 minutes prior to the start time of class AND the instructor must be present. Alternativity, the instructor may ask for students to wait outside as they prepare the room.

Can I drop off / pick up my child curbside?  Unless otherwise specified, parents must accompany children to the classroom. Children may not be dropped off no earlier than 10 minutes prior to the start time of the class. If the instructor is not present, parents must wait until instructor arrives. When picking up your child, parent or guardian must meet child at the classroom. Instructors will not release children until an authorized adult comes to pick them up. 

I am on the wait list, can I come to the first class to see if there is a no-show? No.

• People on the wait list will be contacted by registration if space becomes available.
• Only those enrolled in the class may attend class; the exception being a child/ parent class when only the child needs to be registered.
• Instructor will ask for a receipt if not on the roster.
• Instructors are not permitted to allow wait-listed or unregistered persons to attend a class.

How late can I register for a class? Participants may register up until the day of the first class if there is space. If you register any later than a week before the first class, please bring proof of registration with you. If you do not have a receipt, the instructor will ask that you go to the front desk and ask staff to print your receipt.

What does the supply fee cover? The supply fee covers any expendable and basic materials students will use during class to create their project.  The fee varies from class to class since each discipline has different materials needs and equipment requirements.

• For clay and ceramic classes, the fee covers clay, glazes and firing but it does not include individual pottery tools. Larger work that exceeds normal limitations may be subject to additional firing fee of 2 cents per cubic inch.
• For project-based wood shop classes, the fee covers the cost of the hardwood.
• For jewelry classes, the fee covers base metals and enamels. Fee does not include precious metals or stones. 
• For fine art classes the fee covers basic art materials and supplies used in the class.
• If you have questions regarding supplies or materials email class manager, Dawn Benedetto  dbenedetto@arlingtonva.us
• Students are welcome to bring their own personal supplies and materials if they are so inclined, but it is not necessary or required. It is recommended to label all personal items and tools, as we are not responsible if they become lost or misplaced during class.
• Supplies and supply fees that are included in class fees are not eligible for fee reduction.

Who do I contact for an accommodation request? Arlington County is committed to providing open and accessible programs. If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please call 703-228-4740 or email trinfo@arlingtonva.us

How do I drop out of a class? Can I get a refund? Classes can be dropped as late as 48 hours after the first class.

• In order to receive a refund, customers must cancel within 48 hours after the first class. call registration at 703-228-4747. 
• All refunds due to customer cancellation are subject to a $20 service charge, even if the refund remains as a household credit.
• No refunds or credits will be given after this deadline, or if a customer is unable to attend a one-session program, class, or workshop.
• No refunds are given for programs costing less than $20. 
• For full refund policy please goto registration.arlingtonva.us
• Also, if you attend the first class and decide it is not for you, you are still eligible for a refund, just call  703-228-4747 ASAP-within 48 hours of the first class.