COOMBE PRINT HUB
A Community Space
A place for the printmaking community, in and around Coombe, to get connected, get inspired and gain new skills.
HISTORY
The creation of the print hub has been inspired by the community using the Pottery Hub, by current affairs and the history of our Press. Our beautiful Little John press was bought over 35 years ago with a generous donation from Jaroslav Cisař. Jaroslav was my great grandfather, known to me as “Batuska”. He was a Czech astronomer, translator, journalist and diplomat. During the First World War he was active in foreign resistance and from 1918 to 1919 he worked as the personal secretary of Tomáš Masaryk. Masaryk was a Czech politician, statesman, sociologist, and philosopher who, as World War I ended in 1918 was responsible for co-founding Czechoslovakia and served as its first president. Following the establishment of the Czechoslovakia, my great grandfather worked for the Czechoslovak embassy in London before returning to his homeland in 1927 to work as the Director of the newspaper Lidové noviny “The People’s Newspaper”. After the German occupation, Batuska fled Prague and worked in London for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until the political situation changed again in 1948. At that time he was released from the Ministry and started a new life employed as an astronomer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Batuska finally returned to his homeland in 1980. As we pay attention to issues of migration, borders and the spread of information and mis-information by the Press, the time feels right to open up our Printworkshop and Batuska’s press for the wider to community to use and to create beautiful prints to uplift and inspire. "Do not look at stars as bright spots only. Try to take in the vastness of the universe." - Maria Mitchell, Astronomer
FAQs
Can I book a term as a gift for someone else?
Yes, purchase a gift voucher and you’ll get a code to book the class you want.
Do you have a class for intermediate or advanced printmakers?
All the print classes are open for all abilities. If you are an intermediate or advanced printmaker you might want to consider Print Hub Membership.
Will I have to wear a face mask/what Covid19 safety precautions will be in place?
We follow covid19 safety precautions in accordance with Government guidelines at any given time. Because they are subject to frequent change we update our precautions accordingly. If therefore mask wearing is advised indoors you will be required to do so.
What is your cancellation policy?
All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable therefore if you pay a deposit and then decide not to come or you can’t come due to illness or for any other reason you will loose your deposit money. The full class term, once paid, is also non refundable. If you find you can’t attend for a whole term we will consider transferring it to another term.
What techniques do you cover in this class?
See each class for the specific techniques covered.
Can I book time to edition my own work without being a member or coming to classes?
This is something we will offer in the future, you will need to work with one of our printmakers who is familiar with the press and our set up. For more information when it is available contact us here
I would like to gain more experience in general workshop management, do you run a technician apprentice programme?
We are developing this…its coming SOOON. Stay in touch…
Do I have to come to a class or do you have a membership/print open access programme?
We run a membership programme, you can read all about what the membership includes here. However you do have to attend at least one term of a regular pottery class before you can apply for membership. This is to ensure you are familiar with the pottery and its facilities before you start here
Can I just drop in to have a look around?
Yes. Email us here to book a time to come in