Frequently Asked Questions
Questions You May Have About Signing Up For A Class.
REGISTRATION QUESTIONS
I have registered for my class, when do I hear more about my class?
You will get a receipt via email after you register for your class. Then within the week prior to your class, you will receive a confirmation email. The confirmation email is to ensure the class is running. Each class must have a minimum number of students registered to run the class. In the confirmation email will be information about: a reminder of your class time, location and map of your class, reminder of your supply list (if applicable), and any other information you may need like clothing requirements, etc.
I didn't receive a confirmation email about my class?
1) Please, check your spam for the confirmation email.
2) Check all email addresses. Your membership may be listed under another account. Confirmations will be sent to the emails attached to your registration.
3) Feel free to call the office at 217-523-2631 during business hours to check on your class, if you still haven't received a confirmation email within 24 hours of your class.
What if the class/ camp/ one-nighter is says sold out/ won't take my registration info?
If you click register on a class/ camp that is full, the next page will say 'sold out'. We will then get the purchase button changed to say waitlist, where you can add sign-up. If the camp you want doesn't have a wait list button, please, be patient with the transfer of 'purchase' to 'waitlist' as this is a manual process on our website and not an automatic change. You may call the office during business hours to add your name to the list if the button doesn't show up. If and when a class/ camp spot opens, the SAA Office will call you. We do our very best to ensure that each spot is filled, so we will be diligent about making calls from this list, should a spot open for you. Sometimes cancellations are not made until last minute. Please have patience on this as well.
When will I hear about my wait list request?
If a spot becomes available we will contact you in the order you are listed on the wait list regardless of membership status. If no spot becomes available by the first day of class, we send out a message to all wait list that no spot is available. Most spots become available the week of class start, so we could be in touch with you fairly close to class start. We do not save spots for the next session of classes based on wait list.
Can my child be in an adult class?
Each class has it's own age limit depending on the instructor's format of the class content, time frame of the class and the instructor's desired teaching age group. We do ask that you follow the ages that are listed, as some of the techniques can be dangerous, ask for more muscle and hand-eye coordination from the student, or the time of the class can be too much for a younger age group. We do offer parent/ guardian + child classes/ workshops and youth/ teen class offerings throughout the year.
Does SAA offer 1-on-1 or private lessons?
No, we don't offer private lessons at this time.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. More information about our scholarships can be found here.
When can I sign my child up for Summer Camp?
Sign-up for summer camp is available on these dates at 9AM. If you try to sign-up before 9am, it will prompt you to sign up for the wait list. Online registration is your best option to get into the camp that you want so please check your membership in advance so sign-up online is as smooth as possible. We will not be able to take most calls or help you in-person in time for you to get the into the camp you want.
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS
Do I have to be a member to take a class or do anything at SAA?
No. As a non-member, you have access to everything we offer at SAA. Membership offers you benefits like discounts on classes, early registration, and helps supports our organization and it's programs. We like to say, "You are helping to keep the lights on."
How do I become a SAA member?
Sign up online here, call us at 217-523-2631, or visit in person at the 700 N. 4th Street office and we can sign you up. There are several membership options starting at individual level $55/ year. You can pay $55 up front for this membership, or you can take advantage of our monthly membership, which is a year-long commitment of $5 a month!
I know I'm a SAA member. Why is the discount not applying to my price?
1) Note that a discounted price does not appear on your screen until you get further into the check out process.
2) Your membership may have lapsed, check to see when your membership term ends.
3) As a member, you may only sign up one other guest person with your membership discount.
4) If you have confirmed that you are a member, and the purchase price is still not discounted after you have entered your payment information, please do not move forward with your purchase. Please call the SAA Office at 217-523-2631 so that staff can check to see if there is an issue with the discount for your purchase.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CLASS
What time do I show up for my class?
The instructors ask that you arrive within 10 minutes of the start of class. They are prepping for their class and ask that you do not come too early.
What supplies do I bring to class?
Each class has a supply list in its description. If you are supposed to bring something specific, it will be listed there. If you do not have the items on the first day of class, we usually are able to provide something for you to borrow for your first class.
- Some classes will say, "Supplies provided by SAA" - you will not have to bring anything to the class.
- Some classes say, " Supplies will be discussed on the first day of class" - this mean you have options. Your supplies may have multiple price options and the instructor will walk you through those options on the first day of your class.
Can I leave my art supplies in the studio?
Each studio has its own policies about leaving your materials in the studios. Click here to read more about Studio Info.
Prairie Earth and Fire Ceramics Studio- You, as an enrolled student for that current session, are provided with a shelf for your tools and artwork.
Baima Glass Studio- You will have a shared shelf, as an enrolled student for that current session, with other students in your class. There is no personal shelf available in the Glass Studio.
Smith and Nickelson Metals Studio- You do not have a place to store your materials.
Condell and Mixed Media Studio- There are drying racks available for you to store your flat artwork in the studio vertically or horizontally.
CANCELLATIONS OR REFUNDS OF CLASS
What is the class refund policy?
Class Refunds will be issued at 95% of original purchase price if you cancel 1 week in advance or more before class start date.
Cancellations made less than 1 week in advance will not be eligible for a refund. For example: If you cancel your class 24 hours before the start time, your registration is not valid for a refund.
CAMP REFUNDS: What is the transfer/refund policy?
Refunds will be issued at 90% of original purchase price until April 2, 2023.
Refunds will be issued at 75% of original purchase price until May 7, 2023.
Refunds will be issued at 50% of original purchase price until May 21, 2023.
Refunds will continue to be made at the 50% rate, so long as you cancel within two weeks of the camp start date. Cancellations made less than two weeks in advance will not be eligible for a refund. For example: If you cancel your camp that begins July 18th on July 2nd, you'll receive 50% tuition back. If you cancel your July18th camp on July 5th, you will not receive a refund.
PLEASE double check which camps you are enrolling your child in before confirming your purchase, and take note of these for your summer planning.
Can you credit me a future class?
No. The SAA does not issue credits.
What happens if my class doesn't hit the minimum number of students to run the class?
Each class has a different minimum number of students need to run based on the cost of class expenses. If the class does not have the minimum, we will contact you to move into another class or offer you a full refund for your class. Again we don't credit for future classes and there are no assurances that the class will be offered again in the future. Most of our classes are led by contracted hired instructors that create the schedule based on their availability and need of the class. Though we try to have a consistent class offering for beginners to advanced students, the class listing changes every season and can not be guaranteed.
I have registered for my class, when do I hear more about my class?
You will get a receipt via email after you register for your class. Then within the week prior to your class, you will receive a confirmation email. The confirmation email is to ensure the class is running. Each class must have a minimum number of students registered to run the class. In the confirmation email will be information about: a reminder of your class time, location and map of your class, reminder of your supply list (if applicable), and any other information you may need like clothing requirements, etc.
I didn't receive a confirmation email about my class?
1) Please, check your spam for the confirmation email.
2) Check all email addresses. Your membership may be listed under another account. Confirmations will be sent to the emails attached to your registration.
3) Feel free to call the office at 217-523-2631 during business hours to check on your class, if you still haven't received a confirmation email within 24 hours of your class.
What if the class/ camp/ one-nighter is says sold out/ won't take my registration info?
If you click register on a class/ camp that is full, the next page will say 'sold out'. We will then get the purchase button changed to say waitlist, where you can add sign-up. If the camp you want doesn't have a wait list button, please, be patient with the transfer of 'purchase' to 'waitlist' as this is a manual process on our website and not an automatic change. You may call the office during business hours to add your name to the list if the button doesn't show up. If and when a class/ camp spot opens, the SAA Office will call you. We do our very best to ensure that each spot is filled, so we will be diligent about making calls from this list, should a spot open for you. Sometimes cancellations are not made until last minute. Please have patience on this as well.
When will I hear about my wait list request?
If a spot becomes available we will contact you in the order you are listed on the wait list regardless of membership status. If no spot becomes available by the first day of class, we send out a message to all wait list that no spot is available. Most spots become available the week of class start, so we could be in touch with you fairly close to class start. We do not save spots for the next session of classes based on wait list.
Can my child be in an adult class?
Each class has it's own age limit depending on the instructor's format of the class content, time frame of the class and the instructor's desired teaching age group. We do ask that you follow the ages that are listed, as some of the techniques can be dangerous, ask for more muscle and hand-eye coordination from the student, or the time of the class can be too much for a younger age group. We do offer parent/ guardian + child classes/ workshops and youth/ teen class offerings throughout the year.
Does SAA offer 1-on-1 or private lessons?
No, we don't offer private lessons at this time.
Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. More information about our scholarships can be found here.
When can I sign my child up for Summer Camp?
Sign-up for summer camp is available on these dates at 9AM. If you try to sign-up before 9am, it will prompt you to sign up for the wait list. Online registration is your best option to get into the camp that you want so please check your membership in advance so sign-up online is as smooth as possible. We will not be able to take most calls or help you in-person in time for you to get the into the camp you want.
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS
Do I have to be a member to take a class or do anything at SAA?
No. As a non-member, you have access to everything we offer at SAA. Membership offers you benefits like discounts on classes, early registration, and helps supports our organization and it's programs. We like to say, "You are helping to keep the lights on."
How do I become a SAA member?
Sign up online here, call us at 217-523-2631, or visit in person at the 700 N. 4th Street office and we can sign you up. There are several membership options starting at individual level $55/ year. You can pay $55 up front for this membership, or you can take advantage of our monthly membership, which is a year-long commitment of $5 a month!
I know I'm a SAA member. Why is the discount not applying to my price?
1) Note that a discounted price does not appear on your screen until you get further into the check out process.
2) Your membership may have lapsed, check to see when your membership term ends.
3) As a member, you may only sign up one other guest person with your membership discount.
4) If you have confirmed that you are a member, and the purchase price is still not discounted after you have entered your payment information, please do not move forward with your purchase. Please call the SAA Office at 217-523-2631 so that staff can check to see if there is an issue with the discount for your purchase.
QUESTIONS ABOUT MY CLASS
What time do I show up for my class?
The instructors ask that you arrive within 10 minutes of the start of class. They are prepping for their class and ask that you do not come too early.
What supplies do I bring to class?
Each class has a supply list in its description. If you are supposed to bring something specific, it will be listed there. If you do not have the items on the first day of class, we usually are able to provide something for you to borrow for your first class.
- Some classes will say, "Supplies provided by SAA" - you will not have to bring anything to the class.
- Some classes say, " Supplies will be discussed on the first day of class" - this mean you have options. Your supplies may have multiple price options and the instructor will walk you through those options on the first day of your class.
Can I leave my art supplies in the studio?
Each studio has its own policies about leaving your materials in the studios. Click here to read more about Studio Info.
Prairie Earth and Fire Ceramics Studio- You, as an enrolled student for that current session, are provided with a shelf for your tools and artwork.
Baima Glass Studio- You will have a shared shelf, as an enrolled student for that current session, with other students in your class. There is no personal shelf available in the Glass Studio.
Smith and Nickelson Metals Studio- You do not have a place to store your materials.
Condell and Mixed Media Studio- There are drying racks available for you to store your flat artwork in the studio vertically or horizontally.
CANCELLATIONS OR REFUNDS OF CLASS
What is the class refund policy?
Class Refunds will be issued at 95% of original purchase price if you cancel 1 week in advance or more before class start date.
Cancellations made less than 1 week in advance will not be eligible for a refund. For example: If you cancel your class 24 hours before the start time, your registration is not valid for a refund.
CAMP REFUNDS: What is the transfer/refund policy?
Refunds will be issued at 90% of original purchase price until April 2, 2023.
Refunds will be issued at 75% of original purchase price until May 7, 2023.
Refunds will be issued at 50% of original purchase price until May 21, 2023.
Refunds will continue to be made at the 50% rate, so long as you cancel within two weeks of the camp start date. Cancellations made less than two weeks in advance will not be eligible for a refund. For example: If you cancel your camp that begins July 18th on July 2nd, you'll receive 50% tuition back. If you cancel your July18th camp on July 5th, you will not receive a refund.
PLEASE double check which camps you are enrolling your child in before confirming your purchase, and take note of these for your summer planning.
Can you credit me a future class?
No. The SAA does not issue credits.
What happens if my class doesn't hit the minimum number of students to run the class?
Each class has a different minimum number of students need to run based on the cost of class expenses. If the class does not have the minimum, we will contact you to move into another class or offer you a full refund for your class. Again we don't credit for future classes and there are no assurances that the class will be offered again in the future. Most of our classes are led by contracted hired instructors that create the schedule based on their availability and need of the class. Though we try to have a consistent class offering for beginners to advanced students, the class listing changes every season and can not be guaranteed.