Studio Access
Center for Book Arts serves as a physical and virtual space for research, education, exhibition, practice, and community building. Here you’ll find everything from open calls, to book art related events, to places to visit and learn, as well as other types of resources for artists and book-curious friends.
Membership
All studio renters are required to be current Center for Book Arts members. Membership costs $60 for one year, $30 for current students. Become a member online here. If the cost of membership presents a financial burden please contact membership@centerforbookarts.org.
After joining, you will receive a link to sign up for an account on Q-Reserve, our studio reservation platform, where you will also be asked to review and sign our Studio Renter Handbook and Community Agreements. After this step, you can progress to the Safety Training and Orientation.
STUDIO
Located in Center for Book Arts’ sunny loft space in the Flatiron/NoMad neighborhood of New York City, the printshop and bindery studios have the space and equipment needed to complete a wide variety of book arts projects. You can access the studios by taking an on-site workshop, being selected as an Artist-in-Residence, or by renting time (more info on rentals below).
We offer Studio Artist Info Sessions twice per month on Saturdays at 11:30am. These meetings are for people who are interested in working in the studios but are unfamiliar with the space and would like to visit in person before signing up for membership and studio access. To register to attend an info session, click here.
About Our Studio Spaces
The communal studios at Center for Book Arts are available to rent by the hour or month for artists working independently. Artists wishing to rent time in our studios must become a CBA Member, have completed the Studio Rental Safety Training, and be certified to use the equipment (at this time only RISO and Letterpress printers require certification).
Renters must provide their own materials such as paper, boards, and glue, although some items are available for purchase at CBA.
The RISO and Xerox printers also have printing costs associated with use – RISO: Masters: $2.50 each, Color Start Up: $5, Passes: $.20 per print – Xerox: B&W $0.15 per page, Color $0.60 per page.
Safety Training & Equipment Certification
We require all studio users to receive a studio safety training and orientation before they can rent studio time independently. We currently offer two sessions per month, one on a Tuesday afternoon and one on a Saturday afternoon. You will be able to book a safety training on Q-Reserve.
RISO and Letterpress certifications are required if you wish to use this specialized equipment. Additional information about the certification scheduling process is available once you have joined!
Studio Ambassadors
Studio Ambassadors act as stewards and shop techs for the space and are available to answer questions about the studios and equipment for renters in the printshop and bindery.
The studio ambassador schedule is available to renters once they have joined.
Reservations
Studio users book and pay for time in the studios via Q-Reserve, the reservation platform. You will receive a link to create an account upon signing up for Membership. The Studio Handbook has instructions on how to book time and specific equipment in the studios — and our staff and studio ambassadors are also always available to help out!
If you have additional questions, please call 212-481-0295, or email studio@centerforbookarts.org.
Rental Rates
Monthly Rental:
Includes unlimited access to the studios during business hours (Mon-Sat 11am-5pm) and studio ambassador hours.
$250 per month*
* requires a refundable deposit
Hourly Rental:
Includes access to studios during business hours and supervised hours.
$15 per hour
$80 for 6 hour pass
$180 for 15 hour pass
Storage Drawer or Shelf Rental:
Storage can be added on to any rental type.
Flat File Storage Drawer: $50 per month*
Storage Shelf: $100 per month*
* requires a refundable deposit
For more information about rental please get in touch at studio@centerforbookarts.org
What equipment do we offer in our studios?
Bookmaking Studio
Equipment
- 6 x Work Tables
- 2 x Board Shear
- Guillotine Paper Cutter 30″
- Book Presses (of various styles and sizes)
- 3 x Backing Presses
- 3 x Lying Presses
- 3 x Quickprint Hot Stamping Presses
- 2 x Kensol Hot Stamping Presses (up to 8×10″ chase)
Tools
- Sewing Frames and keys (various sizes)
- Plough
- Straight Edges and Cutting Mats
- Scoring Board
- 4 x ScharfFix
- A large selection of finishing tools for hand tooling and hot stamping
- Brass Type for Hot Stamping
- Rounding Hammers
Letterpress Studio
Printers
- Vandercook Universal 1
- Vandercook Universal 3
- Vandercook Number 4
- Vandercook 219
- Vandercook 10-21
- Chandler and Price Treadle Operated Platen Press (8×12 chase)
- Peerless Treadle Operated Platen Press (9×13 chase)
- Table top proofing press
- Antique Washington Press
- 2 x Table Top Platten Presses (8 x 5 chase)
- Table Top Platten Press (6 x 10 chase)
- Xerox laser printer
Tools
- Metal and wooden furniture
- A variety of inks and modifiers
- Hand brayers
- Various bases for photopolymer printing
- UV Exposure Unit
- Die cutting Blanket (for Uni 1)
- Apron + rag service
- A large selection of Lead Typefaces
- A selection of Wood Typefaces
- An assortment of line cuts and ornaments
- Type Specimen Book
- Type Catalogue
- Drying racks
Risograph Studio
Riso Equipment
- 2 x RISO MH9450U
(2 color tabloid) - Paper Jogger
- Saddle Stitcher
- High capacity stapler
- Mac Computer with In-design, Photoshop, and Illustrator
- Quite Imposing
- Spectrolite App
Riso Ink
- Aqua
- Black
- Blue
- Coral
- Cornflower Blue
- Federal Blue
- Flat Gold
- Fluorescent Pink
- Fluorescent Orange
- Kelly Green
- Light Grey
- Light Lime
- Light Teal
- Mint
- Metalic Gold
- Orchid
- Raspberry
- Scarlet
- Sunflower
- Yellow