Makerspace Policies

Blackout Dates & Holidays

Updated January 2026

The Rivet schedules several blackout dates per year for public and private events, special programs, workshop maintenance, and other situations. Blackout dates are subject to change without notice. Blackout dates are accounted for in the pricing and structure of The Rivet’s available memberships. The Rivet does not provide compensation of any kind for blackout dates. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

The following dates are some of the expected closures each year. As our yearly calendar develops and more dates are added, we will update our public calendar and share via emails to members.

• Donor Events – 4-5 weeknights a year
• Crafts & Cocktails – Monthly in the Spring (listed on our Events page, as-scheduled).
• Summer Camps – The Rivet will be closed in August so we can run our full-day summer camps and complete our annual cleaning, maintenance, and workshop reset. This helps us deliver high-quality educational programs and ensures the workshop is clean, safe, and ready for members when we reopen.
  • • July 27–31: Open 4:00–9:00pm only
    • August 1–2: Regular hours
    • August 3–31: Closed
    • Reopening September 1
• Winter Market – One three-day weekend in mid-November
• Thanksgiving Day (Late November)
• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (December 24th, 25th)
• New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (December 31st, January 1st)
• Independence Day (July 4th)

Cancellation & No-Show Policy

Updated September 2024

We know that sometimes, things come up. Here’s how we handle low class enrollment, cancellations, and no-shows.

Low Enrollment Class Cancellations:

• For classes with registration fees over $50, if enrollment is low, we will cancel the class one week before its scheduled start date.
• Registrants will be notified via email, and the registration fee will remain available as a credit in the member’s account to be applied toward a future class.
• Refunds are available upon request by following the instructions in the cancellation email.

Early Cancellations (24+ Hours in Advance):

If you need to cancel your registration, cancellations made at least 24 hours before the class start time will receive a full refund automatically.

Late Cancellations (Within 24 Hours of Class):

Registered students who cancel on short notice (within 24 hours of the class start time) will receive an automatic 50% refund.

No-Shows:

We understand that plans can change, but please note that no-shows will not be eligible for a refund. This is because we have already purchased and prepared materials for the class, and the instructor has reserved their time specifically for you. Respecting the time and effort of both our instructors and staff is important. However, we recognize that extenuating circumstances can arise. In such cases, please contact us, and we will consider issuing a 50% refund for classes priced over $20.

Community Agreement

Updated December 2024

The Rivet is committed to fostering a community rooted in respect, inclusivity, and collaboration. To maintain a welcoming and positive environment for all members, we’ve formalized our expectations in the Rivet Community Agreement. This agreement outlines principles of respect, safety, and professionalism, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to create and collaborate in a supportive space.

Key highlights include:

• Respect & Inclusivity: Creating a safe and welcoming environment for all.
• Safety & Responsibility: Adhering to safety protocols and maintaining shared spaces.
• Integrity & Professionalism: Acting with honesty, professionalism, and constructive intent.

We encourage all makerspace users, members, and instructors to review the full Community Agreement to better understand how we can collectively contribute to a thriving Rivet community.

View the Full Community Agreement (PDF)

For questions, reach out to [email protected].

Kiln Fine Policy

Updated September 2024

The Rivet is committed to maintaining a welcoming and productive environment for our members, visitors, staff, and volunteers. Part of ensuring creativity thrives and operations run smoothly involves keeping our equipment in excellent condition. To help us achieve this, we’ve established a set of kiln fines that address various levels of damage to our kiln and shelves resulting from user-error.

Implementing this system is necessary to recover the time and resources our staff regularly spends on kiln maintenance and to prevent future damage. This targeted fine system ensures that members who have used the kiln without issue are not impacted by a blanket increase in membership or kiln credit fees.

Fine Tiers:

• Minor Damage to Kiln Shelves:
  $10 fine for glaze drips, minor runs, fused pieces with minimal shelf damage, or exploded pieces that do not damage other items.
• Significant Damage to Kiln Shelves:
  $50 fine for glaze blobs and drops, significant flows, exploded pieces that damage other items, or fused pieces that require chiseling, sanding, or rewashing of the shelf.
• Damage to the Kiln Itself:
  $200 fine for piece malfunctions that result in broken firebrick, heat coils, or destroyed shelves.

Process & What to Expect:

• Pieces incurring fines will be held at the front desk with a note explaining the issue and the corresponding fine. If you can’t find your piece on the glaze shelf, please check with the front desk!
• Additional pieces will not be fired until the fine is paid or other arrangements have been made.

Adjustment Period:

• As we roll out this new policy (implemented in September 2024), we expect an adjustment period for both staff and members.
• No fines will be charged for a member’s first glaze defect unless there is severe negligence. The staff will exercise discretion when identifying and assigning fines based on the outlined criteria.
• We acknowledge that pottery firings can be unpredictable. If damage occurs beyond what can be reasonably controlled, no fines will be applied.

Laser Reservation Policy

Updated December 2024

We recognize the high demand for the Trotec laser cutter and we are committed to creating a system that balances fairness and accessibility for all Rivet members. To manage this shared resource and ensure everyone has the opportunity to utilize it, the following updates to our reservation policy are now in effect.

Daily and Weekly Limits

• Reservations are capped at 4 hours per day (or 2 sessions).
• Users can book up to 7 sessions per week.

Extended and Day-Of Reservations

• For projects requiring more than 4 hours, longer sessions may be approved on a case-by-case basis at the Front Desk.
• Same-day reservations are exempt from the daily and weekly limits. If the laser cutter is available on the current day, members are encouraged to book it (provided all standard requirements, such as membership and clearance, are met).

Reservation Calendar Updates

• Laser reservations now have a dedicated category on the reservation calendar. Check your filters to ensure you can view and select these options.

Laser Reservation Tracker

• A new item called “Laser Reservation Tracker” will be added to your account to enable the updated reservation system.
• These tickets are being manually added by our team, which may take some time. You might see this tracker appear before the new reservation limits are fully implemented.
• If you accidentally remove the tracker from your account, please visit the Front Desk to have it re-added or email [email protected].

Member Email Log

Emails regarding membership and updates to the workshop and policies are periodically sent to current members.