Local Printmaking Shop Racks Up Crowdfunding Cash in Quest for West Philly Expansion. A community printmaking shop serving as a hub for local artists to create handmade books and zines is now at the halfway mark in its campaign to secure funding for a new, larger location.
The Soapbox, situated at 47th Street and Kingsessing Avenue since 2016, has launched a crowdfunding effort with the aim of raising $50,000 for the upcoming relocation. This West Philly studio promises improved accessibility, a generous square footage increase, and modern facilities to accommodate the needs of its members. Currently, individuals pay a monthly fee for access to letterpress, risograph, book press, etching press, computer lab, screen printing equipment, as well as a library housing over 3,500 titles on zines and artist books.
According to reports from The Soapbox, their new home at 4542 Baltimore Avenue will boast approximately 7,000 square feet of space – significantly more than the current site. This expanded location promises better accessibility due to two entrances meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards and enhanced visibility thanks to its street-level position with a garage door that opens directly onto the sidewalk.
The Soapbox has established itself as an important community hub for artists seeking access to specialized equipment, offering workshops and private lessons alongside maintaining an extensive library of zines and artist books. A recent example of this can be seen in West Philly Tool Library's successful crowdfunding campaign from last fall, which resulted in a relocation across the Schuylkill River to 1223 S. Harmony St.
As of Monday, The Soapbox has managed to raise nearly $1,000 for their new expansion project, though they still need approximately $49,000 more to reach their goal.
The Soapbox, situated at 47th Street and Kingsessing Avenue since 2016, has launched a crowdfunding effort with the aim of raising $50,000 for the upcoming relocation. This West Philly studio promises improved accessibility, a generous square footage increase, and modern facilities to accommodate the needs of its members. Currently, individuals pay a monthly fee for access to letterpress, risograph, book press, etching press, computer lab, screen printing equipment, as well as a library housing over 3,500 titles on zines and artist books.
According to reports from The Soapbox, their new home at 4542 Baltimore Avenue will boast approximately 7,000 square feet of space – significantly more than the current site. This expanded location promises better accessibility due to two entrances meeting Americans with Disabilities Act standards and enhanced visibility thanks to its street-level position with a garage door that opens directly onto the sidewalk.
The Soapbox has established itself as an important community hub for artists seeking access to specialized equipment, offering workshops and private lessons alongside maintaining an extensive library of zines and artist books. A recent example of this can be seen in West Philly Tool Library's successful crowdfunding campaign from last fall, which resulted in a relocation across the Schuylkill River to 1223 S. Harmony St.
As of Monday, The Soapbox has managed to raise nearly $1,000 for their new expansion project, though they still need approximately $49,000 more to reach their goal.
The Soapbox is doing an amazing job in bringing art and community together. I love that they're creating a space that's accessible to everyone, especially with the extra entrances for people with disabilities 
. It's also super cool that they have such a huge library of zines and artist books - it's like a treasure trove for anyone interested in DIY culture 
. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they hit their crowdfunding goal and make this new space a reality 
the soapbox has been around since 2016 and now they're finally getting a bigger space that's gonna be totally accessible for ppl with disabilities 
i'm all about supporting community spaces like this, 'cause it's not just about making art, but also about building connections 
can't wait to see what the future holds for them! 
4542 Baltimore Ave better equipped than current spot.
! More space means more creativity & opportunities 4 those artists 
theyve been doing such amazing work supporting artists and zine makers with access to all the equipment they need... it feels like their old space was already maxed out (no pun intended lol) with how popular it got, so its awesome they're expanding into this huge new spot at 4542 baltimore ave - its gonna be so lit for people who wanna learn letterpress or screen print and just have a community to share ideas in 
the fact that theyre including more accessible features like two entrances that meet ada standards is also super important, kudos to them for prioritizing inclusivity 
. A 7k sq ft space sounds like a pipe dream for a community printmaking shop that's been operating on a shoestring budget since 2016. They should've expanded ages ago and wouldn't be in this mess if they didn't rely on crowdfunding to make ends meet 
. It's just another example of how the arts struggle to stay afloat in Philly 
. And what's with the street-level position? Are they expecting a lot of foot traffic or something? 
- a printmaking shop in West Philly is trying to expand and it's kinda cool that the community is rallying around it 
Need to get that money in for them ASAP tho...
. Nowadays, it's all online and stuff 
. But The Soapbox is doing something cool, I guess. They're giving the community a space to make art and books, which is pretty awesome 
. Still, it'll be nice to have more accessible facilities and workshops for people to learn from each other 
its going to be so cool to see them expand into this new location cant wait to see what kind of awesome things they have planned! 
i need a space that can accommodate all this stuff they're getting - 7k sq ft is insane 
! the fact that they're prioritizing accessibility and ADA standards for people with disabilities is super important too 
let's get this funding campaign moving and help them make their new space a reality! 
i mean, who wouldn't want to support a place where artists can come together, learn from each other, and create something beautiful? 
the idea of this new space being more accessible and having way more room for everyone is just... *sigh* it gives me chills 
. I mean, with 7k sqft and all that fancy stuff, it's gotta be a sweet pad for those artists. But $50k is doable, right? They've already got the community backing 'em up, which is more than some projects can say 
. Those Americans with Disabilities Act standards are a must, btw