The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) has announced a brand new festival for 2016, opening up the world of printmaking to artists, beginners and families.

Printmaking is an art form in which an image is made on a block, stone, plate or screen from which the final print is produced, either manually using an implement such as a wooden spoon, or with the help of a printing press. Birmingham has a rich history of printmakers, including John Baskerville, inventor of the Baskerville font, which is still used across the world today.

Visitors can enjoy a variety of printmaking experiences over the coming months, including workshops, demonstrations, a symposium, and the chance to win £1,000 in the RBSA Print Prize exhibition courtesy of the GMC Trust.

The Festival, which launches on Monday 15 August, begins with a series of print workshops led by renowned printmakers suitable for everyone from beginners with an interest in learning a new skill to advanced printmakers looking to refresh their technique.

On 23 October and 6 November, children and families are invited to try their hand at printmaking with two family-friendly workshops. Make a stencil, use ink and handle a squeegee to print your very own trick-or-treat tote bag, or learn how to transform a humble pizza base into another world using a multitude of skills, including printing, drawing and adding 3D buildings!

On Sunday 30 October, both aspiring and practising printmakers are invited to the RBSA Printmaking Festival Symposium. This will explore both contemporary and historic printmaking through talks by print studio owner Simon Burder, printmaker Tracy Hill, and local academic Dr Kate Nichols.

Dr Marie Considine, Gallery Director at the RBSA Gallery said: “We’re excited to launch Birmingham’s first ever Printmaking Festival and hope that it will encourage more people to engage with this historic, hands-on art form. Birmingham has such a rich printmaking heritage, with many artists still practising the technique in the city today. The festival offers people of all ages and abilities the chance to learn something new, whilst introducing both the art form and the RBSA to a wider audience.”

At the end of the festival, the RBSA Print Prize exhibition will showcase original, hand-made prints from both competition entrants and the historic RBSA Collection. To find out how to enter your print, visit www.rbsa.org.uk and download the application pack.

The RBSA Printmaking Festival is supporting using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.


1 Comment