Second State Press
Second State Press is a Philadelphia nonprofit community printmaking studio (founded 2010) that offers classes, workshops, memberships, a work-exchange Fob Holder residency, and fellowships, serving emerging artists, hobbyists, and local arts organizations from its Crane Arts Building location.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Second State Press does
Second State Press is a Philadelphia-based nonprofit community printmaking studio founded in 2010, operating from the Crane Arts Building at 1400 American St., B103. The organization provides professional-grade printmaking facilities and education across a wide range of processes including screen printing, etching/intaglio, letterpress, Risograph (Riso), relief printing (linocut and woodblock), monotype/monoprint, lithography, and book arts. It serves emerging and working artists, hobbyists and enthusiasts, and groups seeking private classes or team-building experiences, with programming spanning single-session intro workshops ($85–$100) through multi-session intensives ($200–$250) and advanced specialty classes ($125–$175).
The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: earned income from class and workshop fees, recurring studio memberships providing 24/7 access, professional screen preparation and transparency printing services (starting at $40 per screen), a limited merchandise e-commerce store, exhibition submission fees ($20), and contributed income from donations and institutional funders including the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Penn Treaty Special Services District, The Joseph Robert Foundation, and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance. A distinguishing product is the Fob Holder Program, a hybrid work-exchange residency in which artists contribute 8+ hours per week of labor in exchange for unlimited 24/7 studio access on four-month commitments; the $550 donation tier is positioned as the cost to fully fund one Fob Holder. The studio also co-presents the annual C.R. Ettinger (CRE) Fellowship with C.R. Ettinger Studio.
Go-to-market is community-led: classes, exhibitions, open calls, and the Second Thursday programming drive acquisition and retention, supplemented by partnerships with Brandywine Workshop & Archives, The Print Center, Common Press (University of Pennsylvania), Taller Puertorriqueño, The Soapbox, BYO Print, and the Collective Futures network. Distribution is direct and on-site at the single Philadelphia studio, with no e-commerce expansion or geographic footprint beyond the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
Second State Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Second State Press
- Legal name
- Second State Press
- Website
- https://secondstatepress.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Second State Press is a Philadelphia nonprofit community printmaking studio (founded 2010) that offers classes, workshops, memberships, a work-exchange Fob Holder residency, and fellowships, serving emerging artists, hobbyists, and local arts organizations from its Crane Arts Building location.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Second State Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Printmaking Studio Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Printing (323120), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111)
- SIC
- Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Print-on-Demand Production (Book POD, Short-Run Fulfillment) (MPAJALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss) (MPAJALAF), Short-Run & Micro-Run Digital Printing Services (POD-adjacent) (MPAJANAI)
Keywords
Where Second State Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Second State Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Class and Workshop Fees: Revenue from teaching printmaking classes and workshops across various skill levels and techniques. Classes range from single-session workshops to multi-session intensives.
- Studio Membership: Recurring membership fees providing unlimited 24/7 access to studio facilities for independent artists.
- Screen Preparation Services: Custom screen preparation services including reclaiming, coating, and exposing screens, plus transparency printing services.
- Merchandise and Print Sales: Online store selling limited edition totes, t-shirts, hoodies and other print-based merchandise.
- Donations and Fundraising: Donations from individuals and institutional supporters to sustain nonprofit operations and scholarship programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Intro Classes (2-5 hours) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Multi-Session Intensives |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Advanced/Specialty Classes |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Screen Preparation Services |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exhibition Submission Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fob Holder Program Donation Tiers |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Second State Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Second State Press is a nonprofit community printmaking studio that provides educational workshops, classes, studio memberships, and artist residency programs. The organization offers access to professional printmaking equipment across multiple techniques including screen printing, etching, letterpress, Risograph, lithography, relief printing, and book arts. Its core programs include hands-on classes for beginners to advanced artists, a work-exchange residency (Fob Holder Program), studio memberships with facility access, and an annual fellowship.
Product overview
Second State Press is a nonprofit community printmaking studio offering a unified ecosystem of printmaking education and access. The core offerings include hands-on workshops spanning screen printing, etching, letterpress, Risograph, linocut, monotype, lithography, and relief techniques; studio membership providing equipment access; the Fob Holder Program as a work-exchange residency; and the CRE Fellowship for advanced artists. Supporting services include screen preparation, transparency printing, an online merchandise store, and rotating exhibitions. All offerings serve to democratize access to professional printmaking facilities for artists at all career stages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Printmaking Classes & Workshops Educational workshops teaching various printmaking techniques including screen printing, etching, letterpress, Risograph printing, linocut, monotype, lithography, and more. Classes range from beginner-friendly introductions to intermediate and advanced intensives, serving artists and hobbyists seeking to learn printmaking skills.
- Studio Membership Membership program providing access to professional printmaking facilities, studio equipment, and 24/7 or scheduled studio time for independent artists seeking workspace for their printmaking practice.
- Fob Holder Program A work-exchange residency program where artists contribute labor (8+ hours per week) in exchange for unlimited 24/7 studio access, storage, and participation in the SSP community. Four-month commitments with responsibilities including workshop assistance, member support, and studio maintenance.
- Cindi Royce Ettinger (CRE) Fellowship
Quantifiable outcome
- Fob Holder Program has operated since founding in 2010, supporting hundreds of artists with free studio access through work exchange
Companies that use Second State Press
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Second State Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Second State Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.
- Brandywine Workshop & ArchivesmajorCo-host of Print Your Voice interactive printmaking event, bringing together multiple Philadelphia printmaking organizations for collaborative public programming.
- The Print CentermajorPartner organization in Print Your Voice event, presenting America Today: Voices in Contemporary Print exhibition.
- BYO PrintminorParticipating organization in Print Your Voice collaborative printmaking event.
- Common Press (University of Pennsylvania)minorParticipating organization in Print Your Voice collaborative printmaking event.
- The SoapboxminorParticipating organization in Print Your Voice collaborative printmaking event.
- Taller PuertorriqueñominorParticipating organization in Print Your Voice collaborative printmaking event.
- Collective FuturesmajorCity-wide network of artist-run spaces presenting Chance Encounter 2026 open call as part of their programming. Collective Futures centers collective practice as a vital mode of cultural production across Philadelphia.
- C.R. Ettinger StudiomajorCo-presenter of CRE Fellowship program. Hosted by Master Printer Cindi Royce Ettinger, the fellowship awards an artist with studio access and stipends. Recipients donate two prints to both C.R. Ettinger Studio and Second State Press collections.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Second State Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kala Art Institute: Berkeley-based nonprofit printmaking and media arts studio providing classes, residencies, fellowships, and studio access — directly comparable community printmaking model.
- Highpoint Center for Printmaking: Minneapolis-based nonprofit printmaking studio offering classes, studio access, exhibitions, and residencies — a structurally similar community printmaking model to Second State Press.
- Brandywine Workshop & Archives: Philadelphia-based nonprofit printmaking studio and archive that shares overlapping mission, audience, and active co-programming relationship with Second State Press through the Print Your Voice event.
- Pyramid Atlantic Art Center: Maryland-based nonprofit art center focused on printmaking, papermaking, and book arts; offers classes, studio access, and residencies parallel to Second State Press's programming.
- AS220: Providence-based nonprofit arts organization running community printmaking facilities alongside broader arts programming; similar artist-run, community-supported model.
- Zea Mays Printmaking: Massachusetts-based nonprofit print studio focused on safe and sustainable printmaking practices; offers studio access, classes, and residencies parallel to Second State Press.
- Anchor Graphics: Chicago-based nonprofit printmaking workshop offering classes, studio access, and residencies — directly comparable community printmaking studio operating model.
- The Print Center: Philadelphia nonprofit dedicated to print and visual arts, co-presenting exhibitions and events with Second State Press; comparable in mission around printmaking access and artist development.
Emerging players
- Common Press (University of Pennsylvania): University of Pennsylvania student-run printmaking space that collaborates with Second State Press; overlapping audience (student artists) and partial overlap in printmaking access and community programming.
Broad incumbents
- Tamarind Institute: University-affiliated lithography center of national renown; broader scope and institutional backing, but operates in overlapping printmaking education and artist services space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Second State Press social profiles
Digital presenceSecond State Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Second State Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Second State Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Second State Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Second State Press
What does Second State Press do?
Second State Press is a nonprofit community printmaking studio that provides educational workshops, classes, studio memberships, and artist residency programs. The organization offers access to professional printmaking equipment across multiple techniques including screen printing, etching, letterpress, Risograph, lithography, relief printing, and book arts. Its core programs include hands-on classes for beginners to advanced artists, a work-exchange residency (Fob Holder Program), studio memberships with facility access, and an annual fellowship.
Is Second State Press a public or private company?
Second State Press is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Second State Press founded?
Second State Press was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Second State Press based?
Second State Press is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does Second State Press make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Class and Workshop Fees are the primary driver. The others are studio Membership, screen Preparation Services, merchandise and Print Sales and donations and Fundraising.
Who are Second State Press's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kala Art Institute, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Brandywine Workshop & Archives, Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, AS220, Zea Mays Printmaking, Anchor Graphics and The Print Center. Common Press (University of Pennsylvania) is listed as an emerging player. Tamarind Institute is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Second State Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Second State Press.
What industry is Second State Press in?
Second State Press's product category is Printmaking Studio Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJALAG, Print-on-Demand Production (Book POD, Short-Run Fulfillment), with a secondary code of MPAJALAF, Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss). Its NAICS code is 323120 and its SIC code is 2790.