Print! Lab @ Polka! Press

Polka! Press is now offering Print! Labs for makers with previous printmaking experience in the areas of screen printing and letterpress. This will be an independent self-led 3-hour period for personal projects with access to the equipment in our studio under the supervision of a Polka! member. The studio monitor will be available for support but please note this is not a workshop or learning experience. Participants will be required to go through a 30-minute on-boarding/studio tour as well as a 30-minute clean up period, included in the 3-hour time slot (that leaves 2 hours for printmaking).

This 3-hour print lab will be available on a sliding-scale of $50-75 to cover supplies and studio monitor’s time. Pay what you can and support the studio! We prefer Zelle, cash, or checks.

Are Print! Labs @ Polka! Press a good fit for your project?

  • Do you have at least 3 qualifying printmaking experiences including but not limited to a former membership at Polka! Press, a printmaking workshop at Polka! Press, a printmaking workshop elsewhere, a printmaking semester at an institution, printing with a friend, a self-taught printmaking project, a former or current membership to Communication Madison, etc.

  • Is your printmaking project small-scale and can be completed within 2 hours?

  • Does your project require access to screen printing equipment? Polka! Press has a darkroom, an exposure unit, a washout booth, a 4-color shirt press, a tunnel dryer, a flash dryer, hair dryers and irons, 5 hinged stations for printing on paper, a drying rack, communal squeegees and spatulas, cleaning supplies

    • Polka! does not have a printer for transparencies, ventilation for plastisol printing

    • Polka! has limited communal inks and paper so you must bring your own printing materials.

    • Polka! will provide 1 or 2 pre-coated screens for your project

  • Does your project require access to letterpress equipment? Polka! Press has a Vandercook SP-15, showcard sign press, small wood type collection, small lead type collection, composing stand, ink slabs, wooden furniture, job sticks, brayers and palette knives

  • Are you considering a Polka! Press membership ($85/month) but aren’t ready to commit?

Print! Lab Interest Form

This form does not reserve a spot. Please fill out this form to let us know of your interest in the Print! Lab. We will reach out via e-mail for scheduling confirmation and payment info.