Studio Access

Castlemaine Press offers members access to a bright, well-equipped printmaking studio. Presses include a manageable 500 x 1000 mm direct-drive etching press and a geared etching press with a bed size of 1000 x 2000 mm for large work, both from local press-makers Merlarue.

To use the studio, artists must become members and must be competent in printmaking. All members must complete a free orientation session and at least one supervised studio session working with an experienced studio member before they are eligible for access. Members also have the option of further sessions working with an experienced studio member if this is considered necessary (fee applies).

Induction

All members are required to undertake an induction process to familiarise themselves with the studio, the equipment, and safe use of the space. This includes assessment of the member’s capacity to use the studio independently. To understand what the induction process involves, what to expect, and what’s expected of you, please read the policy below:

Independent use of the studio one-pager

To find out when the next induction opportunity is, and to book in, please contact us

Studio hire during COVID-19

Castlemaine Press is now open for studio hire!   We are committed to creating a COVID safe working environment so  please take time to familiarise yourself with the additional  measures required in order to minimise risk of infection. We are supplying hand and surface sanitisers and clear cleaning instructions and we ask that members:

• book the Press on your own (not with a fellow member for the time being)
• observe all the steps in the guidelines we’ve put in place, this includes cleaning both on arrival and on leaving the studio
• be guided by our our slightly more BYO arrangements (also see guidelines for details)
• understand that we will arrange bookings so that there are 3 days between one user and the next.

Remember: Please do not hire or attend your session at the Press if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness, however mild. And you must report any symptoms or CV-19 diagnosis if you have used the Press.

Studio hire fees

Book presses here:

Big Press

Small Press

What you need to bring and what Castlemaine Press supplies

Castlemaine Press supplies presses, a drying rack, baths for non toxic etching solutions and for soaking paper, rags and vegetable oil for cleaning, boards for pressing prints, and newsprint.

Studio users are responsible for bringing their own ink, palette knives, rollers, plates, printing paper, cutting and etching tools, gloves, aprons and ‘consumables’.

Booking the space to make your own work

Once you have become a member and have attended an induction session and subsequent supervised session(s), you are right to go! To book the space to make your own work, please email to: castlemainepress@gmail.com

Bank details will be provided by return email so that you can pay the hire fee. Please make your payment within 3 days of making your booking. Once payment is received, you will be given the key code to get into the studio.

Booking the space to run a workshop or course

If you have an idea for a workshop, or course, or masterclass, or project you would like to run, we want to hear it! Proposals can be for something you run yourself or an activity coordinated by you and run by someone else. Please email a short proposal (one page maximum) with a brief CV and a description of what it is you want to run (and when), and how you will approach it.

Proposals will be assessed by a panel and, once approved, the committee can work with you to plan and implement the project you’re proposing.