The Holland Project Community Darkroom is a one-month-only pop-up taking place September 2nd – 27th, 2026 in the Serva Pool Gallery at Holland located at 140 Vesta Street. The pop-up offers group workshops in DIY film developing, darkroom printing/enlarging, experimental printing processes, and open lab hours. Artists and photographers of all experience levels are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity! Check the calendar below for workshop offerings and open lab hours.
The HP Community Darkroom is equipped with 6 enlarger stations, film processing tanks and changing bags, and a negative scanning station set up with an Epson V600 flatbed scanner. We are using Arista EDU Ultra chemicals for processing both film and photo paper (black & white only). Film and darkroom photo paper are provided during workshops, but participants will need to supply their own for open lab times. After September, anyone who has taken a darkroom printing workshop (or those with proven past experience in a darkroom) is welcome to apply to use our year-round DIY Darkroom.
COMMUNITY DARKROOM OPEN LAB
Want to come print in the darkroom, develop black & white film, or scan negatives during open lab hours? Participants who have taken a workshop or those with experience using a darkroom can reserve lab time to work in the Community Darkroom (max 5 attendees per time slot). Reserving your lab time in advance is required as there are limited spots each day. All developing chemicals are included, and participants will need to supply their own film and darkroom photo paper.
ONE-ON-ONE WORKSHOP SESSIONS
Can’t make it to any of the scheduled workshops but still want to learn how to make darkroom prints or develop your black & white film in the Community Darkroom? Schedule a one-on-one session with one of our lab techs! One-on-one sessions are $50 for a 3-hour session and include film/darkroom photo paper plus all the chemicals needed for developing. To schedule a one-on-one session, please contact Alisha Funkhouser via email at alisha@hollandreno.org.
Questions? Email alisha@hollandreno.org
HOLLAND PROJECT DIY DARKROOM
THE DIY DARKROOM is a shared space between the Holland Project and Laika Press, located at 136 Vesta Street next door to Holland Project. It is an independent-use black & white only darkroom equipped for processing and printing of 35mm and 120 film. All black & white processing chemicals and equipment are provided, and photographers are responsible for supplying their own film and paper. The darkroom space includes one Beseler 23C enlarger, neg carriers, filters, easels, rinse tray, and more. The darkroom is also equipped with all the gear for film processing, including film changing bags, processing tanks, and reels (take-home film processing kits are also available for rental). There is a small dry area outside of the darkroom, which includes a light table for viewing negatives and a paper cutter for trimming prints. An Epson v600 film scanner is also available for use upon request (B.Y.O. laptop or reserve Holland’s).
HOW IT WORKS
The DIY Darkroom offers an autonomous working environment and is available for single sessions and membership use to photographers from the community who…
1.) Submit an APPLICATION FORM
2.) Complete an orientation and/or darkroom 101 workshop
3.) Sign an agreement/liability form
Applications are reviewed once weekly, at which point all applicants are followed up with via email for orientation/workshop scheduling. Once your application is approved and you have completed an orientation and/or any necessary workshops, you will gain access to our scheduler, where you can book time to use the darkroom.
EXPERIENCE/PREREQUISITE REQUIREMENTS – Photographers of all experience levels are welcome and encouraged to apply to use the DIY Darkroom; however, anyone interested in booking independent time in the darkroom should have a good understanding of the film development and/or printing process prior to rental. For our safety and that of our renters, we will not book anyone to use the darkroom who does not have sufficient knowledge and experience to use the facilities and equipment competently and without supervision. This is a Do-It-Yourself space, and staff may not always be on-site for troubleshooting/assistance and will not be able to assist renters with completing their film processing or printing projects.
First-time users of the DIY Darkroom will be given a brief safety and facilities orientation prior to booking their first session. Beginners who are interested in using the darkroom will need to complete a Darkroom 101 Workshop and/or B&W Film Developing Workshop in order to gain access for booking and independent use of the DIY Darkroom space.
Whatever your skill level, please go ahead and complete an application form, and we’ll help register you for the appropriate workshop or orientation as applicable!
SCHEDULING + PRICING – The darkroom is available for booking daily for private 3-hr sessions. Reservations are required and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Darkroom drop-in rates are $20 for a single 3-hour session. Monthly darkroom memberships are available for $50/month and include daily access up to 75 hours/month + discounts on darkroom/photography specific workshops hosted by The Holland Project. Black-out dates may occur during special events/workshops.
WORKSHOPS – We offer darkroom courses and workshops for all levels! Group workshops in B&W Film Developing are offered bi-monthly at the Holland Project, and one-on-one Darkroom 101 workshops are offered quarterly. In September 2026, we will be hosting a Community Darkroom in Holland’s auxiliary gallery space, where we’ll offer a range of darkroom and analog photography workshops multiple times throughout the month. To view our upcoming schedule, visit the workshops page on our site.
VOLUNTEER – The DIY Darkroom is a volunteer-driven space! If you’re interested in volunteering at the darkroom, please note this in your application. We’ll follow up with all interested potential volunteers after your orientation.
Questions about the DIY Darkroom? Email alisha@hollandreno.org