How do I get in touch with someone from Inkstorm?
Email us at inkstormscreen@gmail.com and we will try to get back to you as soon as we can. Sometimes we have some gaps in our correspondence because we run on the volunteer capacity of our members, so please be patient and persistent!
We also have Facebook (Inkstorm Halifax) and Instagram (@inkstormscreenprinting) pages, which is a good place to find out about meetings and events, but we don’t check those messages as often. If you want to get in touch directly, email is always best.
Can I check out the space?
Absolutely! Radstorm’s open hours are 1-3pm and 4-6pm on Sundays, which are open to the public but there is not always an Inkstorm member there. You can email us to check when there will be an Inkstorm member around.
What’s the difference between Radstorm and Inkstorm?
Inkstorm is one collective that operates under the umbrella of Radstorm. The other collectives are SadRad, which runs the venue and jam space, and the Anchor Archive Zine Library, which offers zine-making resources and a huge zine collection. Inkstorm works closely to share resources with the other collectives in Radstorm but we do operate separately.
I’ve never screen printed before, can you teach me?
Heck yeah! During covid we are running one-on-one Intro to Screen Printing Workshops that will give you the foundation to start screen printing by yourself. Once you’ve had a workshop and know the basics of the space you can get more help from Inkstorm members during open hours, or by starting a membership to have 24/7 access to the space (check out “What does membership involve?” to learn more). Send us an email to request a workshop!
How much do workshops cost?
One-on-one workshops are on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale, suggested $40-$75. We can also do workshops of two or three people who are already close contacts with each other, and we suggest a scale of $60-$140 for those larger groups. We strive to be affordable for everyone so if these prices aren’t feasible for you we still encourage you to sign up for a workshop and contribute whatever you are able to.
I already know how to screen print, can I use the space?
If you already have a good understanding of screen printing we would still ask that you attend one of our intro workshops, or get an introductory session with an Inkstorm member. Introductory sessions are $10, to compensate the facilitator’s time. It’s important for learning about our specific space and systems for keeping things organized and making sure everyone’s on the same page! We are a DIY space with particular processes, so it may be different from how you’ve done it in the past.
What screen printing materials do you have?
- Silk screens for rent (fabric and paper mesh) ($5/2 week rental)
- Ink, squeegees and scoop coaters (by donation)
- Emulsion for purchase and dark room ($5/screen)
- Printing table with hinge clamps
- Light table for burning screens
- Washout booth with backlight and power washer
- Photocopier and printer
- Screen storage for members
What does membership involve?
Membership can involve as much or as little as you’d like. If you’re only interested in using the space as a printing studio and/or storing your printing supplies, you can pay your membership fees – $5/hour up to a maximum $50/month – and call it a day. If you’d like to become more involved in the collective you can attend meetings, help run open hours, facilitate workshops, and take on a variety of other tasks that we coordinate through our email listserv and our Slack. There’s always lots to do and we welcome new folks who want to get involved and learn more about how the collective works. If you volunteer at least two hours a month then it will count towards your membership fees! Active memberships are $5/hour up to a maximum $25/month. It’s a pretty sweet deal.
I work with a community organization, can you help us out with screen printing?
Yes! Send us an email describing your project, how many people are involved, and what it’s for. Our ability to help with solidarity projects is dependent on the availability and capacity of our membership. Depending on your project there might be members available to volunteer to print materials, teach members of your organization how to print, or provide other resources that would be helpful.