Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street, is looking for a kiln owner who is interested in an Akin Studio Membership starting in February or March 1st 2024 and would like to operate their kiln from the studio. If you have a kiln and would like to operate your own kiln firing business out of an Akin studio, read on to learn more about this opportunity. We have approval for one kiln to be installed in the building so this is a limited opportunity.

Click here to download this call as a pdf

What does running a kiln out of an Akin Studio look like?

Kiln owners and operators run their own firing business out of an Akin studio. Akin does not take a cut of any profits earned from firings. It is up to the kiln operator to determine how often they will fire for themselves and others, what they will charge as a fee, and how they will communicate with clients and organize their firing schedule. We have members doing this at Akin Dupont and Akin St Clair currently. Akin can support your business by promoting it on our website like this: www.akincollective.com/ceramics

Kiln owners will rent the space from Akin to be used as a kiln room. At Akin Davisville, we’ve reserved a suitable room to dedicate to kiln use. Additional space in the building could be rented as well if you needed more space for working, shelving or other storage.

The kiln operator will also be responsible for signing Akin’s Kiln Contract for Kiln Owners and Operators at Akin Studios prior to joining. This contract can be found here and should be reviewed prior to filling out the submission form.

What will it cost me to install a kiln at Akin Davisville?

The kiln operator will rent the studio we’ve designated as the kiln room. The kiln room we’ve chosen is 55 square feet, and the price is $310/month which includes HST, insurance, wifi, 24/7 access, access to communal workspace, kitchen and bathrooms. There will be an additional monthly fee for hydro usage, based on the frequency and duration of kiln firings and the electricity consumption of the kiln. You will also be responsible for all of the expenses related to installing the kiln including electrical work and ventilation.

You must supply all of your own equipment, including the kiln, shelving and anything else that is needed (eg materials and supplies).

The kiln must be installed by a certified electrician to ensure the safety of all studio members. The kiln must be put on its own breaker.

What do the facilities look like?

*Image Above: The designated kiln room at Akin Davisville*

The designated kiln room is a 55 square foot (about 7.5’ x 7.5’) private room with a door that closes, tile floors, and a window leading to outdoors. This room was built with an air vent, as we suspect it served the former tenants as a laundry room.

What control will Akin have over my firing business?

Aside from selecting a suitable kiln owner who is knowledgeable and experienced in operating a kiln, Akin will not assume any control over your firing business. The kiln owner is expected to set their own rates, have their own insurance, organize their own schedule, and assume responsibility for all aspects of their own business. We aim to find a kiln owner who is willing to fire for people within the studio or the larger Akin community if you wish to, and not just for themselves.

The kiln owner will also need to abide by Akin policies including our Code of Conduct, Health and Safety Policy and Guest Policy.

How long will I be able to keep my kiln at Akin Davisville?

As long as you’re a member who pays their monthly fee on time, follows our Code of Conduct and Health and Safety policy, you will be allowed to run your kiln firing business out of Akin Davisville for as long as Akin is leasing the building. Please note that our studio lease end date is November 30th, 2026, however, the landlords may ask us to leave earlier if their site development plans change and we would receive four month’s notice of this. We expect to be staying in the studio at least until the end of 2024. Although we often operate on short term leases we have found that in most cases we are able to extend our stay in these buildings due to the typically slow pace of property development in Toronto. There are however other instances in which property owners make use of the demolition termination clause that often exists in ours and many commercial leases, which means that we have to move out before the end of the lease.

As a team we feel it is important for us to be open and transparent with you as current and prospective studio members so that you have the necessary information in order to make the decisions that are best for you and for your career.

How do I apply?

If you’re interested in becoming a kiln operator at Akin Davisville, please fill out this form. Akin staff will review the form submissions and connect with respondents directly. The deadline to fill out the form to express interest in this opportunity is March 1st, 2024 Filling out the form does not guarantee Akin Davisville membership. Priority will be given to folks who are already on an Akin Waiting List, and folks who self-identify as belonging to our priority equity-deserving groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+)

We look forward to hearing from you! Please email info@akincollective.com with any questions you may have.

FORM LINK: https://forms.gle/Jt1DCML3QvKEFdjf6

Deadline March 1, 2024