Since 1977, Harvestworks has fought for equitable access to professional tools for artists. What began as the Public Access Synthesizer Studio (Studio PASS) was founded on a radical idea – that artists, regardless of background or resources, should have equitable access to professional tools for making sound and media art.
At a time when synthesizers were rare and expensive, Studio PASS offered public access for just $4 an hour, giving artists the chance to experiment with a Buchla 100, EMS Putney, Moog oscillator bank, and Bode Frequency Shifter-recording directly onto cassette decks and shaping the sound of a new generation.
This spirit of access, experimentation, and community became the foundation of Harvestworks. Nearly five decades later, we’ve supported over 14,000 artists, evolving from analog synthesis to digital audio, virtual reality, and immersive media-while keeping the same belief: technology should serve creativity, not limit it.
