Accessibility - Know Before You Go
At the Clay Studio of Missoula, we strive to provide accessibility to all our guests as much as reasonably possible.
Due to the nature of ceramics and our facility, we cannot make every accommodation request a reality, but we will do our best to make guests with disabilities feel welcome. This community is open to everyone.
This page lists information about our facilities at 1106 and 1110 Hawthorne street and their accessibility features, so you can know what to expect before arriving for your visit. At the bottom of this page there is a contact form linked directly to our Education and Outreach Coordinator Kelly Seitz, who you can contact to request accommodations or ask any questions regarding accessibility. Please note that we've got a small staff, and will need time to respond to requests. Please reach out at least one week prior to your visit to request accommodations, more time is better whenever possible.
Arriving at the Studio
Accessible Parking
The studio has one reserved accessible parking space with ramp area, marked with pavement lines and a freestanding sign directly in front of the main building entryway.
If you need space to accommodate multiple accessible vehicles, please call ahead and we can reserve space next to either building with traffic cones.
Building-front parking spots are level, but there is a slope of greater than 5% between our buildings because of the elevation shift from the road to the main lot. We are happy to reserve a spot at either building with traffic cones to improve access if you reach out to staff ahead of your visit!
Entryway Locations
There are two commonly used entryways in the 1106 building. Both face southwest toward the parking lot. The glass door on the right hand side when facing the building leads to our front desk and gallery. It is easy to locate or call staff from this entry.
On the left hand side facing the building, there is a bright orange door adjacent to a bay door. This leads to our main building classroom space, and is where people should enter to go to a repeating class, or for open studio appointments after hours.
It is preferred for people to utilize the glass gallery door for entry when the studio is open to the public.
1110 Hawthorne St has three entrances to different units of the space which face west toward the street. Unit C is on the far left when facing the building and leads to the one-day session and workshop classroom. Unit B is in the center, and houses private maker-space for access artists, and Unit A is on the right, which houses the sculpture studio classroom and two semi-private spaces.
Accessible Pathway
The Clay Studio of Missoula follows ADA regulations for accessible pathways. There should be adequate room for a wheelchair user to navigate the public ground level.
Many people utilize the studio on a daily basis, and it is possible for small furnishings like stools and carts to be moved around into unexpected locations. Staff does our best to stay on top of this and make sure pathways are always clear, but we are happy to make adjustments to help guests if needed.
There is no elevator to reach the second story, but this floor contains only private spaces for resident artists which are not available to the public, and the staff office. All services the office can provide are available at the front desk on ground level, and any meeting with staff can be conducted on ground level.
Clay Studio of Missoula Facility Map
Clay Studio Site Accessibility Features
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Entry door handles and threshold height...
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Bathroom size and grab bars...
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Lumen levels...
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Sound levels...
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Seating spaces...
Accessibility Accommodation Requests
We understand that accessibility is not one-size fits-all. We strive to be inclusive and make accommodations where we are able to be as welcoming as possible. Below are some examples of accommodations we can make on request:
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Staff can be called or emailed to help students and members make appointments for classroom day-use access or other studio services.
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Digital PDFs of artist statements can be provided to read on a personal device.
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Large print physical copies of policy documents or gallery materials can be printed.
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One-on-one appointments with a staff member to provide services such as reading over membership documents together or taking a tour of the space can be arranged.
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An appointment can be arranged for a tour of an exhibition in our gallery, though this may take additional prep time depending on how descriptive a tour is needed.
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Staff can be prepared to help carry artwork or items in or out of the studio for members, students, and gallery purchases during staffed hours.