Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Limerick Printmakers

When I go back to Ireland, I'm going to visit the Limerick Printmakers printshop. Unfortunately, it looks like they are not offering any workshops while I'll be there. I'm looking forward to meeting the founders of the shop, and seeing what Irish printmakers are up to, and what they are thinking about. I mostly am looking for advice on opening up a printshop.

In July 1999 Limerick Printmakers was set up by three BA printmaking graduates from the Limerick School of Art and Design, Claire Boland, Kari Fry and Melissa O’Brien. Limerick City Enterprise Board gave Limerick Printmakers a start up grant in the form of Irl £12,000 to buy equipment and cover initial overheads.




Considerable support came from numerous people and organisations including the Printmaking Department at Limerick School of Art and Design (L.I.T.), Des Mac Mahon, Dietrich Blodau, Charles Harper; Mary Parkes at the Limerick Adult Education Centre; Cork Printmakers; The Graphic Studio; The Blackchurch Print Studio; Limerick Network Enterprise; Sheila Deegan, Limerick City Council; and Joe Buckley, owner of the premises.

In 2003 Limerick Printmakers received their first revenue funding from the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaion. This revenue funding has been continued and increased in 2004 with an additional minor capital grant for equipment and again increased in 2005.

5 comments:

Marissa L. Swinghammer said...

I wish we had a place like that here. The only print studio that I know of costs a small fortune to use.

M said...

Yes, I wish I had cheap access to a studio too. That's why I want to open a print shop like the ones in europe where it is affordable for anyone to go to. A lot of students stop printmaking after school because they can't find an affordable place to go.

Marissa L. Swinghammer said...

I stopped printmaking for years after school. I still haven't gotten back into litho and that is what I mainly did while in college. Though honestly right now I am so into woodcuts that I have little interest in it. Eventually when I have more money I will take a refresher class. :)

I hope that you get to start your own print shop and not have to charge high prices for people to use it.

M said...

I would hate to open a printshop and not have it be affordable. Maybe I'm a bit Naive about money, but that is why I have to visit printshops that have succeded on charging less, and see how they do it!

I think your woodblock prints are so exciting, and i'm jealous of your new baby. Hope your new bed comes soon.

Marissa L. Swinghammer said...

It came last night. Have already printed and it is going quite well. I will still probably hand print certain things, but not often. What a pain!

Thank you. I would like to see more of your work and I really enjoy your journal and the links that you post.