Spike Print Studio

Dear Friends   

Welcome to our Crowdfunder project -  We are raising funds to support our studio to continue delivering exceptional open access printmaking facilities for everyone.    

Who we are and what we do 

Spike Print Studio is the largest open access print studio in the South West set up in 1976 by Peter Reddick RWA under the name Bristol Printmakers Workshop as part of the artist led initiative – Artspace.  We have been delivering exceptional resources, inspirational training and a space for all, consistently since then. Spike Print Studio is a great space to share knowledge and foster collective creativity and innovation. It is a place that is welcoming and inclusive which helps it thrive and remain resilient.  Our mission is to provide exceptional resources, inspiration, space, training for all, from beginners to professional artists and by doing so, advance printmaking and educate the public in the inclusive art of printmaking. We want everyone to have the opportunity to take part, learn and experience the extraordinary world of print. See where it can take you.  

 We make printmaking accessible to all through our rich learning programme of courses, workshops and master classes, membership and open access.  We provide training in contemporary and traditional printmaking in exceptional studio facilities for fine art printmaking.  We actively promote artists, training and education for the public. We strongly believe in advancing printmaking education for all and in particular for young people and those who may not have access or opportunities. We feel that all young people should be given the opportunity to pursue their educational and professional goals.  

 We provide space for artists to work and learn and we have developed a programme to encourage education and learning for all, including outreach point projects with the wider Bristol community. Show Me How is our community printmaking programme and includes free monthly workshop for displaced people in Bristol in conjunction with the charity Borderlands, workshops on and offsite for young carers. We offer support for young homeless interested in the arts with access to courses and individual tuition and training opportunities.  

Why are we crowdfunding?

Despite having to close the studio in the pandemic lockdown, Spike Print Studio survived thanks to the amazing hard work of our staff, the kindness and understanding of our community and supportive financial grants. We managed this difficult situation and felt confident coming out of lockdown, relishing the return to the studio.    

Spike Print Studio is a charity, meaning that everything we earn goes straight back into the studio. No shareholders, no-one profiting personally.   Although we occasionally receive specific project funding, the studio does not receive core funding from local authority, lottery or government grants and we rely totally on our own endeavours to raise income from membership fees, courses, events and commission from print sales.

However, we couldn’t predict the new challenges we now face, and we find ourselves in difficult times as the economy and cost of living crisis impacts on our studio costs.  Like many other Arts charities we’ve been hit with a series of recent financial setbacks - rent increase, utilities bill increases and restricted grant funding last year, money we rely on heavily to run the studio and our charitable projects.  We need to get back on our feet to be able to continue to push forward with our vision. We’re asking for your help to raise money to continue with the studio mission and its future. With your donations, we can continue to support the print community we’ve established in Bristol and develop our range of learning programmes.  The money we raise will go towards maintaining equipment , funding extra staff time, promotion and marketing, developing the learning programme and maintaining the facilities we offer.  

This Crowdfunder is made possible by the determination of the SPS team, the voluntary efforts of the trustees and members and the generous donation of rewards and prints from our creative community here in Bristol and beyond. We invite you to check out our rewards and get involved in supporting the future of SPS.