Studio Labs

MCBA’s Studio Labs provide low-cost access to equipment outside of workshops.

Enjoy fellowship with other makers as you work on your own projects in our bindery, wet studios, and print studios. Studio Fellows are available to answer questions or help with equipment, but participants must register in advance and have adequate training to work independently.

MCBA’s studios are also available for rental by-the-hour. Visit MCBA’s equipment rental page for more information. For regular access to equipment, check out MCBA’s Artist Collective. Studio Labs are not eligible for Certificate credit.

Have questions? Check out MCBA’s Workshop & Studio Lab Policies and FAQs.

Bookbinding Lab

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT or
Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

Experience required

Bookbinding Lab provides access to basic binding tools, hot foil stamping machines, buttonmaker, and large tables. Work on your own projects alongside other artists in a friendly and supportive environment. Fee includes some consumables (small amounts of thread and PVA); supply your own book board, cloth, paper, and other needs. 

For those interested in using cutting equipment to cut stacks of paper with a guillotine or large sheets of paper on a board shears, please register for Cutting Equipment Lab.

Bookbinding Lab is typically scheduled once per week on Tuesdays, except once a month when it is scheduled on a Saturday.

  • Prior training using the bindery tools and equipment you plan to use (bone folders, knives, awls, hot foil stamping machine, etc.) is required to register. If you need introductory experience in bookbinding to register for future Bookbinding Labs, register for Introduction to Hand Bookbinding, offered every one or two months. For training on safe and effective use of hot foil stamping machines, register for Hot Foil Stamping on Kwikprint Machines (offered about once each year) or inquire about a one-to-one tutorial.

    Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT

$35 (10% member discount)
$18 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)


Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

$50 (10% member discount)
$25 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Cutting Equipment Lab

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT or
Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

Experience required

Cut paper and book board using MCBA’s cutting equipment! Two guillotine paper cutters cut stacks of paper and two board shears cut large sheets of paper (also called “parent” sheets) and book board. Cutting Equipment Lab offers individuals an opportunity to reserve an hour-long time slot during Studio Lab to prepare paper and board for future projects.

Cutting Equipment Lab is typically scheduled once per week on Tuesdays, except once a month when it is scheduled on a Saturday.

  • Prior training on safe and effective use of MCBA’s guillotine paper cutter and board shears is required. If this equipment is new to you and you are interested in learning how to use it, register for Cutting Equipment Orientation instead.

    Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT, hourly reservations

$10 (10% member discount)
$5 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% member discount)

Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT, hourly reservations

$10 (10% member discount)
$5 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% member discount)

Letterpress Lab

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT or
Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

Experience required

Enjoy community in the print studio! Set type, make polymer plates, and print on MCBA's presses. Requests for a specific press may be made when registering. Fee covers inks and solvents; supply your own paper.

Letterpress Lab is typically scheduled once per week on Tuesdays, except once a month when it is scheduled on a Saturday.

  • Letterpress Lab is designed for those who have completed workshops, Letterpress 1–3, or have similar experience and are prepared to work independently. If you have questions about your experience level, please email studios@mnbookarts.org prior to registration. If you need letterpress experience to register for future Letterpress Labs, register for Letterpress 1–3, offered regularly.

    Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT

$35 (10% member discount)
$18 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

$50 (10% member discount)
$25 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Marbling Lab

Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

Experience required

Build your marbling skills! Marbling Lab provides individuals with a fully equipped marbling station. Fee covers use of 16×20 inch tanks of carrageenan, rakes, alum, brushes, cups, and eye droppers; supply your own Golden Fluid Acrylic paint and paper.

Marbling Lab is typically scheduled on the first or second Saturday each month.

  • Marbling Lab is designed for those who have taken an introductory level marbling workshop such as Introduction to Marbling at MCBA, or a similar workshop elsewhere. If you have questions about your experience level, please email studios@mnbookarts.org prior to registration. If you need marbling experience to register for future Marbling Labs, we invite you to register for Introduction to Marbling.

  • Registration closes 48 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

$50 (10% member discount); $15 supply fee
$25 BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members); $15 supply fee

Papermaking Lab

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT

Experience required

Beat fiber with MCBA’s Reina beater and two Valley beaters. Or, bring prepared paper fiber for sheet-forming. The paper studio has a variety of western-style and eastern-style moulds and deckles for making sheets, two hydraulic presses, plenty of vats, and felts with air-drying racks and restraint dryers (with cardboard and blotters). The Valley beaters hold approximately .75 lb. (dry fiber or half-stuff); the Reina holds up to 2 lbs. dry fiber (half-stuff only).

For those registering to use the beaters, please specify which beater you'd like to reserve when registering. Pre-weigh and pre-soak all fibers to be beaten. BYO fiber. For those registering to pull sheets, schedule a time to pick up your paper soon after the Lab.

  • Experience required: Papermaking Lab is designed for those who have completed an introductory level papermaking workshop or have similar experience. If you have questions about your experience level, please email studios@mnbookarts.org prior to registration. If you need papermaking experience to register for future Papermaking Labs, register for European Papermaking (offered every two or three months) or another introductory papermaking workshop and Paper Beater Orientation (typically offered on the first Saturday of the month).

  • Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT

$35 (10% member discount)
$18 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Screen Print Lab

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT or
Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

Experience required

Prep screens in MCBA’s darkroom and print in the screen print studio while enjoying the fellowship of other artists. Choose to print with exposed screens or wax paper stencils. Fee covers screen use and photo emulsion; supply your own water-based ink and paper.

Screen Print Lab is typically scheduled once per week on Tuesdays, except once a month when it is scheduled on a Saturday.

  • Experience required: Screen Print Lab is designed for those who have completed an introductory level screen printing workshop or have similar experience and are prepared to work independently. If you have questions about your experience level, please email studios@mnbookarts.org prior to registration. If you need screen printing experience to register for future Screen Print Labs, register for Introduction to Screen Printing, offered once every two or three months.

  • Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Tuesdays: 5–9pm CT

$35 (10% member discount)
$18 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Saturdays: 10am–4pm CT

$50 (10% member discount)
$25 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Cutting Equipment Orientation

Tuesdays: 6:30–7:30pm CT

Experience required

If you aren't already trained to use our cutting equipment, here is your opportunity! Through hands-on training you will learn the capabilities of each piece of MCBA's bindery cutting equipment, and how to use them correctly and safely. Completion of this training will allow you to rent this equipment and use it independently.

Cutting Equipment Orientation is scheduled once per month on a Tuesday.

  • Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Tuesdays: 6:30–7:30pm CT

$15 (10% member discount)
$8 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)

Paper Beater Training

Select Saturdays: 11am–12pm CT

PAPERMAKING Experience required

If you aren't already trained to use our paper beaters, here is your opportunity! Through hands-on training you will learn the capabilities of each aspect of MCBA's paper beaters, and how to use them safely and effectively. Completion of this training will allow you to rent this equipment and use it independently. 

Paper Beater Training is scheduled once per month on a Saturday.

  • Paper Beater training is designed for those who have experience with sheet formation and paper drying methods, but lack training in processing fiber in a beater (or are new to MCBA’s papermaking equipment). Training on MCBA’s paper beaters is necessary before working independently in Papermaking Lab. If you have questions about your experience level, please email studios@mnbookarts.org prior to registration. If you need training, please see information on our one-to-one tutorials.

  • Registration closes 24 hours in advance. Instructions on how to enter MCBA for Studio Lab will be sent in a confirmation email once registration is complete.

  • MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.

Saturdays: 11am–12pm CT

$15 (10% member discount)
$8 for BIPOC/Financial scholarship participants (10% discount for MCBA members)