Studio

WELCOME TO OUR STUDIO SPACE

The studio is open as of February 3, 2025! Please read updates below for details on how to access. Priority will be given to returning members, those interested in gaining access, please read on.

Since 1970, Open Studio, a non-profit artist-run centre dedicated to contemporary printmaking, has supported emerging and established artists while promoting the dynamic world of print through exhibitions and educational programming. Open Studio is located at 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 104.

Print studio access is available 24/7 for approved Studio Members.

Our print studio provides access to a range of analog techniques, including intaglio, lithography, relief, and screenprinting. Studio Members can use these facilities to continue their independent printmaking practice.

Explore, create, and discover the world of print at Open Studio!

An artist working on a stone lithograph.

Angela Piere Segovia letterpress printing.

How to Access the Studio

Steps to become a Studio Member!

  • To access the studio independently, you should have basic print knowledge for safety. If you’re new to printmaking, we can help you gain experience. To get started, email us with the subject “Studio Access”.
  • All studio users must have a current studio membership, available after orientation. Membership includes access to the booking system, fob activation, in-house materials (acids, solvents, cleaning supplies), and discounts at select art stores like Above Ground Art Supplies, DeSerres, Gwartzman’s, and The Japanese Paper Place. A membership card is provided upon application or renewal.
  • Following studio membership approval, studio members can purchase studio rent. Studio rent covers general rent expenses (heating/lighting etc.) and access to the studio.
  • For a comprehensive list of what items are provided and what supplies fall under the responsibility of the artist, click HERE.
  • The online Bulletin will include relevant internal studio updates for members, as they arise.

Not ready to work in the studio independently? Consider taking a print course with us or setting up a private instruction session.

What is Open

What you can access in the Studio

Please note that the Studio is currently undergoing a staggered reopening as we await equipment!

  • Etching, Intaglio, Relief & Letterpress: OPEN
    Exposing photoetching/photopolymer gravure plates remains unavailable. Aquatint replacements are in progress (use spray paint as a stand-in). Photopolymer gravure plates can be commissioned from Jillian Ross Print.

  • Screenprinting: Partially OPEN
    Printing and manual processes only. Screen burning remains unavailable. Alternative exposure options: Screentec, Kid Icarus, or Secret Planet.

  • Lithography: Limited OPEN
    Pronto plates can be printed. Stone graining and photolithography exposures remain unsupported.

  • Computer & Scanner Area: OPEN

Rental Rates 2025

Studio Membership Fee

$200

Day Pass

$50

Month Pass

$250

Annual Pass*

$125 /month

Note: 1-day Passes are now available to purchase via the booking system, here.

*Access fee is charged every month after the day of purchase. This subscription is binding for the first 12 months*, and monthly charges will continue to occur after the initial year. The price is subject to change at any time after a 30-day advanced notice.

A Supporting Membership is available for those unable to access our studio but eager to stay connected, Supporting Membership offers a way to remain involved. Purchase your Supporting Membership here.

  • Studio users must first hold current membership before using the studio
  • Studio users must have received an orientation to gain access
  • Studio facilities are open 24/7 for pre-approved studio users
  • We encouraged masks to be worn in the studio
  • Studio users must sign our usage policies & health and safety waiver
  • Bookings are mandatory to reserve and guarantee equipment access
  • Bookings are in four-hour time-slot increments (can be booked consecutively)
  • Studio users must have fobs for 401 Richmond building and the studio doors
  • Studio users can purchase rent online and book equipment online
  • Studio users are responsible for cleaning and sanitizing their areas

Please note that membership does not imply immediate studio access. Studio access is offered after orientation and the purchase of studio rent. To purchase a membership or to renew, please contact us by email.

Studio Membership – $200 per year

Studio Membership provides access to our facilities and a wide range of benefits to support your creative journey.

BENEFITS

  • Orientation for new members and refreshers as needed*
  • Building and studio fobs, with annual activation
  • Access to the equipment booking system
  • Studio consumables (e.g., rags,) and studio maintenance
  • Eligibility to vote at Annual General Meetings (AGMs)
  • Eligibility to join the Open Studio Board and committees
  • Eligibility to apply for project space exhibits and participate in special calls
  • Access to members-only events, such as Studio Socials 
  • Exclusive access to members-only newsletters
  • 10% off education opportunities (up to two classes/workshops per year)**
  • Discounts at a variety of art supply stores**
  • Social media representation opportunities and the ability to consign art through our shop (at the discretion of Open Studio staff)

Notes:

  • *Rent is not included in membership fees and must be purchased separately based on the package that suits your needs.
  • **Call to request the discount code before enrolling in classes. Private Instruction is exempt from this discount.
  • ***Discounts are available at: Aboveground Art Supplies, Gwartzman’s Art Supplies, Gallery 44 weekend workshops, The Japanese Paper Place, Paper House Studio, SWIPE: books on advertising & design. A valid membership card is required for all discounts. Subject to change.

Supporting Membership – $100 per year

For those unable to access our studio but eager to stay connected, Supporting Membership offers a way to remain involved.

BENEFITS

  • Eligibility to vote at Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
  • Eligibility to join the Open Studio Board and committees.
  • Exclusive access to members-only newsletters.
  • Eligibility to participate in special calls.
  • Access to members-only events, such as Studio Socials.

Studio Membership Responsibilities

Open Studio relies on its studio members for community and fundraising support. Studio members are encouraged to:

  • Donate at least one print annually to help with fundraising efforts (unsold work will be returned at the studio’s discretion).
  • Volunteer for events or programs, with hybrid opportunities available for both Studio and Supporting Members.

Announcements about donation requests and volunteer opportunities will be communicated through Members-only newsletters.

To find out about volunteer opportunities, please email us.

Equipment

LIST OF STUDIO EQUIPMENT

Book Studio Equipment
  • 1 Accu-Glide Screenprinting vacuum table – 24” x 30”
  • 2 Accu-Glide Screenprinting vacuum tables – 25” x 38” (one with squeegee arm)
  • 1 Vacuum printing table – 44” x 32
  • 1 light tablet 23.4″ x 33.1″
  • Screen coating room and screen storage closet
  • Vented washout room with power spray washer
  • Print drying racks
  • Assorted squeegees
  • Assorted screens available for rent
  • Refrigerator for emulsion storage
  • 1 American French Tool etching press – 48” x 78” press bed
  • 1 American French Tool press – 30” x 48” press bed
  • 1 Charles Brand press – 16” x 30” press bed
  • 1 Vandercook 4T electric type high relief press – 14” x 18” max form
  • 1 Line-O-Scribe M711 – 7” x 10” max form
  • Letterpress furniture and limited collection of type
  • 1 Metal plate cutter – blade width 37.5”
  • 1 Stainless steel paper soaking sink – 37” x 52”
  • 1 Vertical ferric chloride acid bath – 18” x 24”
  • 1 Hot plate
  • Fusion boxes for aquatint
  • Assorted hand rollers and brayers, including viscosity set
  • Homasote boards for drying prints
  • 1 Griffin lithography press – 39.5” x 72.5” press bed
  • 1 Praga lithography press – 30” x 46” press bed
  • Stones ranging from book size up to 32” x 43”
  • 1 Hydraulic hand-operated lift for moving stones
  • Drying racks, leather rollers and portable stone tables for moving stones in progress
  • 2 – iMacs (20 “ & 27”)
  • HP LaserJet 700 B+W printer, up to 12” x 20”
  • Epson 1100xL opaque + transparency scanner, up to 11″ x 17″
  • Wacom Intuos 4 Drawing Tablet

Frequently Asked Questions

HERE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

You do not have to use our facility to qualify for membership, however you may not get all the benefits from membership if you are not an active studio user. You can still benefit from discounts at select art stores/suppliers, like Above Ground Art Supplies, DeSerres, Gwartzman’s Art Supplies and The Japanese Paper Place.

If you would rather support Open Studio as a donor, we would welcome your contribution! You can make a gift to Open Studio here. We operate as a charitable non-profit dedicated to offering accessible, inclusive, and affordable printmaking facilities, programs, and services for artists and the public from across Canada and abroad.

Yes! We are always happy to welcome new members. You do not have to use our facility to qualify for membership, however you may not get all the benefits from membership if you are not an active studio user.

Membership is renewed on an annual basis.

All studio users must first hold current membership before accessing the facilities. Annual membership fees cover access to our booking system, activation of fobs (to the building and the studio), and an initial orientation. Membership also covers in-house materials/consumables such as acids, solvents, cleaning solutions, rags, and other chemicals

Additional benefits include discounts at select art stores/suppliers, like Above Ground Art Supplies, DeSerres, Gwartzman’s Art Supplies and The Japanese Paper Place.

For a comprehensive list of what items are provided and what supplies fall under the responsibility of the artist, click HERE.

You do not have to have a formal printmaking background in order to access the studio. Members must be able to print independently and safely in a shared studio space. Our education program is a great way to become familiar with printmaking. Our courses offer the fundamentals of printmaking and are geared toward those with little to no experience in print.

Consider taking one of our education classes, which is a great way to familiarize yourself with the studio. If you’re looking for a more tailored approach to refreshing your knowledge, pursuing private instruction would be the most flexible and fruitful option.