melbourne museum of printing

Melbourne Museum of Printing (MMOP) is a working museum of typography and printing. Since 1993 the museums focus has been on the retention of traditional printing methods and equipment.

The organisation was initially established as the Australian Type Company – containing a comprehensive collection of printing presses, typesetting machines, types and other print-related artefacts in addition to its Monotype-based typecasting machines and matrix collection. In due course, it became the last remaining typefoundry in Australia and should, by commercial norms, have closed in the early 1990’s when proprietor Michael Isaachsen turned the whole collection into a non-profit museum.

The museum has hosted numerous studio classes, tours and events including hands-on printing workshops for hundreds of secondary and tertiary students. The facility has also been embraced by many local artists and designers as well as high profiled international creatives such as Tobias Frere Jones (www.typography.com), Patrick Thomas (www.patrickthomas.com) and Lori Damiano (www.lori-d.com).

Over the past 2 years the MMOP has come under increased financial pressure and at this point is in a perilous position. Consequently a volunteer committee has been formed to undertake an extensive campaign to try and save the museum, and thus increase patronage and use of the museums print workshop facilities by artists and students. The committee is made up of designers, artists, students and print enthusiasts.

On Sunday May 17, 2009 between 2 and 6pm, the museum will be open to the public. This event will take place at the museums print workshop located at 36 Moreland St, Footscray and will include live music, letterpress and typesetting demonstrations and a print exhibition and fundraiser – with works created by some of Melbourne leading contemporary artists and design studios.

A temporary website can be found at: www.print-at-mmop.blogspot.com