West Philly Printmaking Studio Counts on Community for New Home.
The Soapbox, a beloved local printmaking shop in West Philadelphia, is turning to its community for help. The non-profit studio has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the move into a larger space at 4542 Baltimore Avenue, with a goal of raising $50,000 by spring.
Currently located at 47th Street and Kingsessing Avenue, the Soapbox serves local artists who use the shop's resources to create books, zines, and other publications. Its new home will provide more than double the space it currently occupies, allowing for increased accessibility and visibility.
The studio offers access to cutting-edge tools like letterpress, risograph, book presses, etching presses, computer labs, and screen printing equipment – all available on a monthly fee basis. It also boasts a vast library of over 3,500 zines and artist books, as well as workshops and private lessons for those who want to learn.
Community members have shown their support in the past with similar initiatives, such as the West Philly Tool Library, which successfully relocated across the Schuylkill River last fall. As of Monday, The Soapbox campaign has raised less than $1,000 from over 30 contributors.
The new location boasts two entrances meeting ADA standards for accessibility and better visibility due to its street-level space and garage door that opens directly onto the sidewalk.
The Soapbox, a beloved local printmaking shop in West Philadelphia, is turning to its community for help. The non-profit studio has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the move into a larger space at 4542 Baltimore Avenue, with a goal of raising $50,000 by spring.
Currently located at 47th Street and Kingsessing Avenue, the Soapbox serves local artists who use the shop's resources to create books, zines, and other publications. Its new home will provide more than double the space it currently occupies, allowing for increased accessibility and visibility.
The studio offers access to cutting-edge tools like letterpress, risograph, book presses, etching presses, computer labs, and screen printing equipment – all available on a monthly fee basis. It also boasts a vast library of over 3,500 zines and artist books, as well as workshops and private lessons for those who want to learn.
Community members have shown their support in the past with similar initiatives, such as the West Philly Tool Library, which successfully relocated across the Schuylkill River last fall. As of Monday, The Soapbox campaign has raised less than $1,000 from over 30 contributors.
The new location boasts two entrances meeting ADA standards for accessibility and better visibility due to its street-level space and garage door that opens directly onto the sidewalk.
. Can't we just use Venmo or something already? 
Anyway, I love The Soapbox and all the amazing things they do for artists in West Philly, but have you seen those tiny spaces they're currently in? It's like a college dorm room for grown-ups! 
They really need that new space to spread their wings (or should I say, print their books?) and make even more art happen. Community support is always cool, but let's be real, who doesn't love a good ol' fashioned Kickstarter campaign? 
Still, it's great to see artists supporting each other... now if they could just get some decent Wi-Fi in that new space, I'd be one happy printmaking nerd! 
. It's always the same story – some non-profit or artist studio needs help, so they just throw up a crowdfunding page on the internet and wait for people to donate whatever they feel like giving 
It's awesome to see The Soapbox counting on its local supporters to help fund their new home. I mean, we've seen it work out well before with places like the West Philly Tool Library, so fingers crossed they hit that $50k goal! 
. it's all about who you know, not what's good for the community. they're just asking for more money to maintain their status quo of being a exclusive resource for rich artists. 
i mean we have the best artists in west philly and it's only fair they get the resources they deserve 
i've had so much fun at their current spot making zines and collabs with other artists, now imagine doubling that space 
hopefully the community comes together to support them this time around, like those awesome people who made the west philly tool library happen last year 
. And it's awesome that they're prioritizing accessibility - that garage door opening up onto the sidewalk is such a thoughtful touch 
. Can't wait to see how this all plays out and what kind of projects come out of their new space 
!
a printmaking studio in west philly needs a new home and it's up to the community to help fund it! $50k goal is super reasonable considering what they'll get in return, more space for ppl to create and learn 
gotta support local initiatives like this! 
. On the bright side, their new location is pretty sweet – two entrances and all that jazz 
The Soapbox needs our help, fam! 
The Soapbox is literally counting on us! They're trying to raise $50k by spring which is a big ask but if they get it done it'll be awesome 
think about all the artists who wanna make zines and books but can't afford the space right now, this will be a game changer 
Plus it's West Philly so we gotta support our own! They already have an amazing collection of 3k+ zines lol that's some serious prep work done. Fingers crossed they hit their goal and get those doors open soon 
it's amazing how community comes together to support local businesses like The Soapbox, I mean they're already doing a lot with limited resources, can you imagine what they'll be able to do with more space? 
3,500 zines and artist books in the library is insane, I remember digging through thrift stores for art supplies back when I was in high school it's like this studio is a treasure trove... anyway, $50k seems like a stretch but fingers crossed they hit their goal 
it's awesome that they're turning to the community for help 
they're also getting some awesome upgrades, like street-level space and better accessibility features 
4542 Baltimore Ave is already looking SO COOL btw 
, but I guess 4542 Baltimore Avenue is still pretty central 
. The fact that they've got over 3,500 zines and books available for members to use is insane! 
. More space means more opportunities for artists, which is always a good thing 
, it's awesome to see people rallying around a local business like The Soapbox. They're basically a hub for artists and creatives, providing these amazing resources that help them make their projects come alive 
. It's great to hear they've got a solid plan in place for the new space, especially with those extra entrances and garage door – it's gonna be so convenient! 
I'm hoping they hit that $50k goal by spring 
!