An interesting article in the current edition of Printmaking Today by Sean Rorke discusses the dramatic and encouraging rise in the number of Open Access Print studios being set up across the country. (P.31, Printmaking Today, Spring 2014, Cello Press)
This is really encouraging for all of us involved in education, promoting and collecting prints.
At the beginning of the month Edinburgh Printmakers got the go ahead to take over the landmark British Rubber Company building in central Edinburgh.
The aim is to create a brand new home for EP. This will be a purpose build print centre containing workshops, artists studios, education facilities, gallery, cafe and meeting spaces.
A £5,000,000 lottery fund, on top of a previous award from the Scottish government will allow this important centre for innovative printmaking to flourish and expand.
Some of you may have attended some of the excellent courses run by the studio but most of you will have changed some of your print practices over the last few years as a result of the research in to safer printmaking pioneered by members of the Scottish workshop.
(It is such a shame the lottery funded National Print Centre proposed for Milton Keynes all those years ago didn't materialise).
I recently visited the new London Centre for Bookarts in Fish Island near Hackney Wick.
This is the only open access book arts studio in London with facilities for book binding and letterpress printmaking.
(I used to run the school letterpress printing press during my sixth form - pre digital, photocopy, computer days! so it was a pleasure to see the same machines again which clearly inspired my passion for print all those years ago.)
I'm looking forward to signing up for a course over the summer.
The centre is a pleasant 20 minute stroll through the Olympic Park from Stratford Station.
The centre has all come about through the commitment and determination of one individual, Simon Goode, the founder. It took him 8 years collecting machinery, saving and planning but it is well worth a visit - and so clean . It certainly shows what can be achieved.
If you have not had a look check out the centre at
londonbookarts.tumblr.com/
Hambis Printmaking Centre, Cyprus.
During a visit to the island a few weeks ago I visited Hambis Tsangaris at the
printmaking museum and studio situated in the countryside a few miles from Limassol.
The centre, set in a remote little village away from the tourist areas, has become the catalyst
for a huge growth in printmaking across the island.
Hambis, a Cypriot born print artist and illustrator established the charity organisation
which now manages the work of the centre in 2008.
Since that time thousands of visitors, school children, teachers, artists and locals have taken
part in workshops and varied arts events organised around the museum.
The centre now coordinates workshops and exhibitions across the island and printmaking
has been written in to the art curriculum as a core topic.
The organisation is now finalising details for its next exciting development -
they have secured a building and funding to establish a second gallery / museum and
education studio in the centre of Old Nicosia.
So next time you are in Cyprus or looking for a print workshop in the sun see what is on offer
in Cyprus.
www.hambisprintmakingcenter.org.cy/
Douglas Anderson.
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