Toogs Artist Workshop is a creative production space based in Burra Isle, Shetland. Open to artists, designers, and community members, our inclusive facilities support a range of printmaking and creative processes.
Below is everything you need to know about how to access the workshop and what equipment is available.
Access Pathways
Gaada believes anyone should be able to access the benefits art can bring, and it is the social enterprise’s founding aim to reduce barriers to high quality, creative development for people in Shetland.
In 2023 our building was brought under community ownership and relaunched as Toogs Artist Workshop. We currently offer three core pathways to accessing workshop facilities on a regular basis.
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Open Access
These sessions provide semi-independent workshop access and light support every week to Shetland Artist Members (find out how to join here) and non-members. It’s a great way to use our facilities to develop your own creative projects.
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Weekly 121 Workshops
These sessions provide weekly access to one-to-one support + facilities over an extended period. This bespoke support is particularly suited to artists experiencing barriers to creative development due to a long-term health condition.
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Group Workshops
Each of our regular group workshops focus on exploring a specific creative process or technique. They occur on a monthly basis and can be booked online by anyone looking to try something new. Private workshops can also be accommodated upon request.
Additional Opportunities
Here are even more ways to access the workshop, get inspired and get creative!
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Bursaries
Each year we welcome applications from our local community for Workshop Bursary awards, which aim to support individuals to overcome barriers they may experience in accessing creative development in Shetland.
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Work Share
Work Share provides a welcoming space to share and discuss creative work and aspirations with fellow creatives through a bountiful shared Artist Lunch, followed by an Artist-led Activity to get us warmed up before the Work Share!
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Library & Collections
Toogs hosts a growing number of resources and special collections relating to artist-led activity in Shetland, including an impressive collection of over 600 artist-made publications across many different formats.
Equipment
For those who like to know exactly what facilities Toogs offers, below you’ll find a list of current facilities + equipment available to access!
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○ RISO MH9350 A3 digital stencil duplicator
○ RISO colours: HD Black, Aqua, Blue, Yellow, Orange, Bright Red, Fluorescent Pink, Teal, Green, Metallic Gold
○ IDEAL 4850 guillotine
○ Automatic paper folder
○ Semi-automatic creaser
○ Renz 2:1 Wire Binder
○ Rapid 101 Saddle Stitcher -
○ Kippax Vacuum bed
○ LED UV exposure + drying unit (78 x 102 cm max screen size)
○ Backlit Washout Booth
○ Various screen sizes + meshes
○ 100 tray A1 Drying Rack
○ Heat Press -
○ Galley proofing press (428 x 770 mm image size)
○ Adana 8 x 5 Platen Letterpress
○ Various Letterpress Type
○ JTM 6x4” Platen Hot Foil Stamping Machine -
○ Geared etching press (420 x 594 mm bed size)
○ Photo etching
○ Drypoint engraving
○ Various tools and rollers -
○ Wide Format Digital Printer
○ Wide Format Plotter/Cutter
○ Epson 4K Projector + Screen
○ Laserscript Engraver
○ iPad Pro with Apple Drawing Pencil
○ A3 Wafer Lightboxes
○ A3 Scanner
○ Apple Macs with Adobe CC
○ Badge-Making Tools -
○ Safelight darkroom
○ De Vere 203 Dichromat Enlarger
○ Assorted size trays
○ Various wet photography developing / printing tools