Dover print fair 2020

What Next?

Over the weekend of 23 and 24 May 2020, DAD partnered Dover Studio Collective and Future Foundry in delivering a virtual print fair as part of the Dover printfest2020. Over 30 printmakers responded to the call to take part and 29 printmakers set up “shop”, using their own instagram accounts. Lisa and Sarah at Future Foundry did a fantastic job of getting the fair up and running and promoted. All participants were profiled through the Future Foundry Instagram account while Dover Studio Collective and DAD helped to promote and share the huge number of posts and stories created over the weekend, giving this online event a genuine festival feel.

Many participants sold work, some for the first time in their career, and there was a real exchange of ideas and skills across the generations and through levels of experience. The fair provided a dynamic learning opportunity for the organisers and participants alike. Accessibility was one of the advantages of the online format.

At first the imposed lockdown seemed as if it would torpedo our scheduled week of printmaking events, as part of Fête de l’estampe 8, but technology and a brilliant team helped to develop together a fantastic series of virtual events instead. The format may have had to be changed, but the collaborative exchange of ideas was exhilarating! (Mike Tedder)

The fair has laid the foundations for a printmakers’ network in Dover, drawing in printmakers from across the world.

8 of the printmakers agreed to be interviewed by Sarah Demich and these inspiring conversations can be viewed on Future Foundry’s IGTV grid. Links below:

Emma Panda

Harriet

Dawn Cole

Clare Smith

Melissa Fisher

Mike Tedder

Inês Mourato

Helen Evans

The Dover Printfest2020 finished with a Big Print Day on 26 May with online demos of simple printmaking techniques to do at home and the launch of the Dover Studio Collective virtual open studios.

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