Printfest in Schools
Learning about printmaking
We aim to inspire young people with printmaking, encouraging the use of printmaking techniques and an appreciation of printmaking by others.
A printmaking brief for 2023 was provided to Primary and Secondary Schools to spark ideas for projects and artwork which was displayed at The Coro during Printfest 2023.
Secondary and Primary school printmaking showreel from 2023
Comments from schools and school children in response to the Printfest weekend:
“I just wanted to say how fantastic Print Fest was this year, and seeing the students work presented so professionally was incredible. So thank you” UVHS
“My project for Printfest was great, once I was looking at my artwork in the gallery, it shone right in front of my eyes and I enjoyed it throughout the experience” Student from Lakes School
“I like how Printfest gives young artists an opportunity to be seen” Student from Lakes School
“The children get the opportunity to work to a brief and have their work displayed in a gallery. It gave our children a sense of achievement” teacher from Ramsden Infants School
“The children loved printing! It is very sensory and suited their needs” Teacher from Sandgate School
“It was great for the students to have their work exhibited outside of school. It raises their aspirations as well as their motivation levels” Teacher from Settlebeck School
“Lovely to have so many students involved. I really like that you do free teacher places on the courses” exhibiting Artist
“Great to see. Keep it going. Art in school is vital.” exhibiting Artist
“I am impressed by the variety of work produced and with the way it has been hung” Hilary Paynter, Printmaker of the Year
“I am trying to pick someone who has a slightly different voice, has a bit of individuality coming through, anyone can make a print, but how do you move out of the milieu, how do you make it powerful? Not pretty but powerful?” Gail Mason, Printmakers’ Printmaker and schools’ Judge
Instructional videos
Please feel free to use these during lessons, pausing the instructions as you go along ~ Click the image to view the videos in YouTube.
Relief Printing with Polyblock ~ Anyone can use this instructional video for learning how to create some simple printmaking techniques that can be done in any space.
Monoprinting with stencils part I Anyone can use this instructional video for learning how to create some simple printmaking techniques that can be done in any space.
Above is a selection of the prints created by the school children in response to the brief
The YOUNG Printmaker of the Year Award winners
~ Shannon ~ Ulverston Victoria High Secondary School
~ Peter ~ Broughton-in-Furness CE Primary School
A new award in 2023 because of the amazing creative input form over 600 school children who took part in responding to the brief developed with artist Gail Mason, who was voted Printmakers’ Printmaker in 2022. Gail selected the winners and made several commendations for both individual students and for their schools. Lorraine Thompson and Esther Benson of the Printfest Team made presentations of the award certificates during school assembly at these two schools.
Primary and Secondary
Primary and Secondary school pupils in the local area fully embraced our project. Using a range of printmaking techniques and a variety of creative responses to the brief, students produced an impressive collection of work. The work of over 600 children was on display over the Printfest weekend, up the stairwell, in the Super Room, in the Main Hall corridor or projected on a loop in the Supper Room.
The 2024 brief
Theme: Turning a sketch into a Print
Sally Adkins was voted as ‘Printmaker’s Printmaker’ at this year’s Printfest weekend.
Sally makes sketches whilst out in the landscape and in all weathers to capture the feel and mood of a place. These drawings inspire her prints; she doesn’t copy them, they just remind her of how it felt to be outside in nature. The print technique she uses is called etching and she works mainly in black and white.
She says “I sketch to capture the sense of place, the weather, the way the light falls, my visceral response to where I am. The sketchbook becomes a prompt, a memory of marks. My etching / print develops from that memory but takes on a life and path of its own.”
Graham Firth, another prize winner at Printfest 2023, sketches his surroundings in more urban settings and also turns his sketches into prints. Graham works mainly in multi colour lino prints.
Choose work you think is appropriate for the age group you are working with. We would like to ask school pupils to respond to the idea of Turning a Sketch into a Print. Any hand-made printing technique can be used.
Your Brief: