2024 Gourd Art Festival Workshops

The last day to register for workshops online is the Monday prior to the SMGS Festival. After this date workshop registrations will be taken on a walk in basis, according to availability at the SMGS Festival. Registrations for non-canceled classes will still be accepted up to and during the festival, provided the teacher is able to accommodate walk-ins.

Things to know:

• The teachers set a minimum number of students required in order to accommodate their time and travel expenses. A workshop registration deadline is also set. The current registration counts will be conveyed to teachers on Friday, 4 weeks prior to the festival. If the teacher’s minimum has not been met, they may decide to cancel that workshop. If a teacher decides to cancel a workshop, SMGS asks to be notified by Wednesday of the following week.
• Note: Teachers must use their own original artwork or obtain written permission to teach from original creator.

SMGS Refund Policy

Students registered for any teacher/SMGS cancelled workshop will be notified of the cancellation and their full registration fee will be refunded. Cancelled classes will be removed from the website and students will be encouraged to enroll in another class.

All classes should be cancelled individually and refunded individually. If SMGS cancels a class, students receive a full refund. If students cancel a class they receive a refund minus the $5.00 processing fee—as long as they request the refund prior to the refund deadline.

If a student wishes to cancel out of a class they need to email the Workshop Coordinator.  The Coordinator will work with the SMGS Treasurer to process the request for a cancellation/refund (minus a $5.00 processing fee).   Any cancellation/refund requests received after 2 weeks prior to the SMGS Festival will be processed on a case by case basis and are not guaranteed.  Refunds may not be processed until after the SMGS Festival. 

If a student wishes to cancel out of one workshop and register for a different workshop they must do so in two separate steps: 1) Email Workshop Coordinator a cancellation/refund request and 2) register and pay online for the new class.  Due to the variances in class fees,  previously paid registration fees will not be transferred from one class to another.

No-show students will have up to one week after the festival to request a refund by contacting the Workshop Coordinator.  The board will decide on a case by case basis, as we all realize there are unavoidable circumstances, such as serious injury or family crisis.

Unclaimed fees for students who do not show up or contact the workshop coordinators within one week will be dispersed between SMGS and the teacher.  SMGS will retain the workshop fee ($5,10,15) and the remainder will go to the teacher.

There may be final adjustments to this policy.