Abstract:
While letterpress printing is undergoing a cultural and creative transformation, there is a
significant absence of opportunities to learn, access, and practice letterpress printing in a
community setting. This study explores the historical, systematic, and organizational
issues that affect community access to contemporary letterpress printing. Through a
comprehensive literature review and analysis from three artist space case studies, this
study 1) explores the significance of artist spaces on a macro level; 2) compares and
contrasts business models for nonprofit, for-profit, and social enterprises; 3) analyzes
three present-day artist spaces featuring letterpress printing; and 4) provides
recommendations for a letterpress-focused artist space that would be appropriate in scale
for Eugene, Oregon. As several Eugene/Springfield stakeholders have preliminarily
identified a need for a community print shop in the local area, this research provides a
helpful blueprint toward the development of such a space.