Malaspina Printmakers Society

What Malaspina Printmakers Society does

Malaspina Printmakers Society is a nonprofit artist-run centre founded in 1975 in Vancouver, British Columbia, operating as a registered Canadian charity and provincially incorporated society. The organization provides a comprehensive printmaking ecosystem that includes 24/7 studio access to specialized equipment, introductory and advanced workshops, instructional mentorships, collaborative printmaking services, public exhibitions, and a sales gallery of over 1,000 original fine art prints. It serves professional and emerging artists, art students and hobbyists, visiting and research artists, art collectors, and educational institutions, hosting over 200 local and international artists annually through its residency and studio programs.

The underlying platform is built around a 2,500 square foot Granville Island facility (1555 Duranleau Street) — its main headquarters since 1981 — plus a downtown Howe Street Studios location (1265 Howe Street) that houses the Printermedia Artist Residency and 24/7 window exhibitions. Specialized equipment includes a Glen Alps press, multiple Hunter Penrose and Takach etching presses, Griffin litho presses, a Chandler & Price letterpress, 60 marble and limestone lithography stones, large-format Epson inkjet printers up to 44 inches, and full metal and woodworking shops. The organization supports a broad range of printmaking techniques including intaglio, etching, drypoint, aquatint, mezzotint, lithography, monotype, relief (woodcut/linocut), letterpress, collagraphy, silkscreen, and digital printing.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model spanning seven streams: print sales (C$10–C$900+), studio access passes (C$54 daily to C$270 monthly with equity-based sliding scale up to 65% off), workshops (C$55–C$397), mentorships, collaborative printmaking services, donations (registered charity status), and artist residencies (~C$300/month). Distribution combines a physical gallery on Granville Island with an e-commerce storefront offering free worldwide shipping. The organization receives core government funding from the BC Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, City of Vancouver, and Province of British Columbia, and operates with a lean staff of 1-10 employees led by two named staff members (Justin Muir, Val Loewen) and a board of eight directors.

Name

Malaspina Printmakers Society

Legal name

Malaspina Printmakers Society

Website

https://malaspinaprintmakers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Malaspina Printmakers Society is a nonprofit artist-run centre in Vancouver, Canada, founded in 1975, that provides printmaking studio access, workshops, residencies, exhibitions, and fine art print sales to over 200 local and international artists annually through its Granville Island and downtown facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artist-Run Print Centre

NAICS

Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Support Activities for Printing (323120), Printing and Related Support Activities (3231)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Service Industries For The Printing Trade (2790)

akta.pro primary industry

Crafts & Maker Arts (Ceramics, Textiles, Jewelry, Mixed Media) (EDAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Printmaking studio access
• Fine art print sales
• Art education workshops
• Artist residency programs
• Printmaking equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Fine Art Print Sales: Sales of original fine art prints through e-commerce and Granville Island gallery. Over 1000 original prints available online. Prices range from approximately C$10 to C$900+.
2. Studio Access & Rentals: Day passes (C$54.13), week passes (C$135.32), and month passes (C$270.65). Equity-based sliding-scale rates between $95.26/month to $270.65/month for long-term access. 24-hour access to studio and storage.
3. Classes & Workshops: Introductory workshops in screen printing, intaglio/etching, relief printing, woodblock/linocut, lithography, cyanotype, bookbinding, photography, and darkroom. Prices range from C$55 to C$397.
4. Instructional Mentorships: Hourly instruction for customized learning in printmaking techniques. Artists paired with experienced print artists.
5. Collaborative Printmaking: Artists hire expert printmakers to print editions for their projects. Research and production collaboration options available.
6. Donations & Fundraising: Registered charity relying on individual and group contributions. Provided over $25,000 in financial support to low income artists in 2023. Annual fundraising events including auctions.
7. Artist Residencies: Printermedia Artist Residency Program at ~$300/month with optional $50/month for Granville Island access. Six-month residencies with 24/7 access to communal studios.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Malaspina Printmakers Society is a nonprofit artist-run printmaking centre in Vancouver that operates a 2,500 sq ft studio on Granville Island and a second downtown location at 1265 Howe Street. It sells original fine art prints online and at its gallery, rents 24/7 studio and equipment access to artists, delivers workshops and mentorships in printmaking techniques, hosts public exhibitions, and runs multi-month artist residency programs. Founded in 1975, it serves as Vancouver's centre for contemporary art in print media and supports over 200 local and international artists annually.

Product overview

Malaspina Printmakers Society operates as a nonprofit artist-run centre offering a comprehensive printmaking ecosystem. The core offerings include studio access and rentals providing 24-hour access to professional printmaking facilities, over 1000 original fine art prints available for sale, and classes/workshops teaching techniques including screen printing, intaglio, etching, relief, lithography, cyanotype, and bookbinding. Supporting services include instructional mentorships for customized learning, collaborative printmaking services where professional printmakers assist artists with editions, artist residency programs (research, visiting, emerging, and collaborative), public exhibitions viewable 24/7 in downtown windows, school tours, and specialized equipment/supplies rental. The organization hosts over 200 local and international artists annually and serves as Vancouver's centre for contemporary art in print media since 1975.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prints for Sale Online storefront offering over 1,000 original fine art prints from local and international artists produced through various printmaking techniques, with free worldwide shipping via Canada Post and prices ranging from approximately C$10 to C$900+.
• Studio Access & Rentals 24-hour access to the Granville Island printmaking studio and specialized equipment via day, week, and month passes, plus equity-based sliding-scale long-term memberships ranging from C$95.26 to C$270.65 per month.
• Classes & Workshops Introductory and intermediate workshops covering screen printing, intaglio, etching, relief printing, woodblock/linocut, lithography, cyanotype, bookbinding, and darkroom photography, priced between C$55 and C$397.
• Instructional Mentorships Hourly one-on-one customized learning sessions pairing artists with experienced printmakers for technique guidance or project troubleshooting.
• Collaborative Printmaking Ad-hoc professional services where artists hire expert printmakers to print editions for their projects, including research and production collaboration options.
• Public Exhibitions Rotating public exhibitions of print and intersecting media displayed in the 24/7 window gallery at the downtown 1265 Howe Street location.
• Printermedia Artist Residency Six-month residency program at the downtown Howe Street Studios with 24/7 access to communal ventilated studios, darkroom, wood shop, metal shop, and printmaking facilities for artists exploring intersecting media; residency fee approximately C$300/month with an optional C$50/month for Granville Island access.
• Artist Residency Programs Four program tracks (research, visiting artist, emerging artist, and collaborative printmaking) supporting artists developing practices at the Granville Island and Howe Street locations; 97 artist project entries on record.
• School Visits & Tours Free approximately 20-30 minute studio tours with live printmaking demonstrations for elementary, high school, college, and university school groups.
• Equipment & Supplies Access to specialized printmaking equipment including lithography presses, etching presses, silkscreen facilities, darkroom equipment, inkjet printing up to 44in wide, and woodworking tools available for studio use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 artists served annually through studio programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and historical.

• Vancouver Metal Arts Association (VMAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Partner in Printermedia Residency Program's metal arts component. VMAA jurying artist selection, providing equipment guidance, and supporting metal shop development at Howe Street Studios. Part of feasibility project to explore Metro Vancouver as a metal arts hub.
• Emily Carr University of Art + DesignhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1975 by students, fellows, and instructors from the Vancouver School of Art (now Emily Carr University). Ongoing relationship through artist exchanges and alumni.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Open Studio (Toronto): Canada's other major artist-run printmaking centre, operating studio access, exhibitions, editions, and education in Toronto. Closest national peer in scope and model to Malaspina.
• Kala Art Institute: Berkeley, CA-based artist-run centre offering printmaking studio access, residencies, exhibitions, and classes. Directly comparable hybrid studio/education/exhibition model with similar equipment footprint.
• Highpoint Center for Printmaking: Minneapolis-based nonprofit printmaking centre providing studio access, classes, and exhibitions. Operates a comparable artist-run model serving a regional creative community.
• Tamarind Institute: Albuquerque-based fine art lithography workshop affiliated with the University of New Mexico. Comparable in offering professional lithographic print services, residencies, and artist collaboration.
• Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE): Long-established fine art print workshop producing editions with leading artists. Comparable in collaborative printmaking services and equipment-driven studio model.
• Crown Point Press: San Francisco-based fine art etching studio offering collaborative printmaking, workshops, and gallery sales. Directly comparable studio/services/sales model.
• Center for Contemporary Printmaking: Norwalk, CT-based nonprofit printmaking centre offering studio access, classes, residencies, and exhibitions. Closely mirrors Malaspina's program mix and nonprofit structure.
• Hatch Show Print: Nashville-based historic letterpress and poster-printing shop combining retail, education, and artist-driven production. Comparable in equipment-based studio model and workshop/print sales mix.

Broad incumbents

• Artscape (Toronto): Canadian nonprofit operating artist studios, cultural space, and creative placemaking at broader scale. Comparable as an operator of subsidized artist workspace and cultural real estate rather than a print-specialist.

Emerging players

• Vancouver Metal Arts Association (VMAA): Partner organization developing metal arts capacity in Metro Vancouver, with shared equipment ambitions at Howe Street Studios. Comparable as an emerging artist-run trade association overlapping Malaspina's audience and infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/malaspinaprint
• YouTubeyoutube.com/malaspinaprintmakers
• Facebookfacebook.com/malaspinaprintmakers
• Instagraminstagram.com/malaspinaprintmakers
• Pinterestpinterest.com/malaspinaprintmakers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Malaspina Printmakers Society