Printfest Applications

Applications for
Printfest 2026 are now open

Printfest takes place on the early May Bank Holiday 2026:

Opening Talk; Thursday 30th March, 5.30~8pm,
Printfest Preview; Friday 1st May, 6.30~9pm
Friends of Printfest from 5.30pm
Main Exhibition; Saturday 2nd May, 10~5pm
& Sunday 3rd May, 10~4pm

In the Main Hall at The Coro in Ulverston, there are 43 stands:

41 stands ~ for Artists Printmakers, selected from the Artists’ applications

1 stand ~ Printmaker of the Year 2026,
Announced soon

1 stand ~ Printmakers’ Printmaker 2025,
Aga Kubish

Apply for Printfest 2026

1. Make sure you are ready to complete your application by having these items to hand:

  • four images in JPG format with your name and print title as the file name,
  • your 100-word artist statement for use in social media,
  • your 40-word artist statement for use in the exhibition catalogue,
  • a brief CV,
  • payment method.

2. Click your preferred payment method below to open the Google Form and fill in your application.

Bank Transfer
Cheque
PayPal

3. Submit your Google Form.

4. Make your payment.

6. All submissions will go through the Selection Process (details on the right).

5. Emails go out to all artists beginning of February.

Deadline for applications is midnight 7th January 2026.

Paying by PayPay

Please click the button below and you will be taken to PayPal to make your payment.

Artist Applications

Printfest is open to ALL Artists Printmakers that are interested in taking part in a printmaking festival in Cumbria.

Artists at any stage of their practice and from anywhere in the United Kingdom or from overseas.

Printfest aims to select a wide variety of printmaking methods covering diverse content. It is anticipated that the body of work for each artist is cohesive showing distinct personal style.

Stand fees for 2025:
All 43 stands are in the Main Hall at The Coro:
Stand fee £330 when paying by BACS or Cheque.
Stand fee £340 when paying by PayPal.

Selection Process

Selection Panel:

To be announced soon

Here’s how it works:

The selection process has two stages:

1. The anonymous round 

~ Each of the judges receives PDF files that include all the applicants. They receive a criteria sheet and every applicants’ artists’ statement of 100 words (names removed). Over a week to 10 days they view the work, consider the criteria and read the statements. Then they fill in the selection sheet and mark either YES, NO or MAYBE against each number and return their selection to be loaded onto the full combined spreadsheet.

2. The meeting round 

~ The judges gather at one location in Ulverston to review the anonymous voting results. They review and confirm those who have received the most votes. They review and confirm those who have the least votes. They discuss, review, look at websites, debate and then vote on all remaining artists one by one until we have agreement on the final selection. This takes about three hours.

The majority of the judges have made applications for events and exhibitions and know what it’s like to be declined, and accepted.

Printfest has a reserve list to cover any unforeseen circumstances.

The results are final. No negotiations will be entered into.

The dates and timing:

• The anonymous round has been sent out to the panel and the guest judges
• The meeting round is set for end of January.
• Emails to artists go out beginning of February.