Nonprofit Spotlight: Central Print

Central Print is a nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to promote the art of letterpress printmaking by providing workshops, classes, and programs that focus on design and production.  

Central Print’s programs, which are open to the public, offer participants the opportunity to work with historic printing equipment.  Classes and workshops cover a wide range of topics such as calligraphy, letterpress, typesetting, and screen printing. Artists work together in small groups, sharing creativity and participating in class print exchanges. 

The organization’s mission-based Open Studio program makes it possible for artists to pursue individually driven printmaking projects. Individuals who have taken at least one class at Central Print must pass an annual qualifying exam to prove competency and safety in using the equipment. Then, they use Central Print’s hand tools and equipment to create projects of their own. 

Every Saturday from June 4 to October 15, Central Print’s free Summer Print Studio presents unique activities based in printmaking, book arts, hand lettering, and paper crafts. The family program is funded in part by the Missouri Arts Council. 

Virtual tours of Central Print are available. Tours include demonstrations of printmaking equipment in use, a detailed history of letterpress printing, and how the preservation of historic printmaking equipment has relevance today. 

Central Print is participating in Give STL Day on May 5, 2022.