Rediscover Northern Ireland Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Washington DC, USA
April - September 2007

PRINTMAKERS MAKE THEIR MARK IN WASHINGTON D.C
Two of Northern Ireland’s most active printmaking workshops for artists, Belfast Print Workshop, (located in Cathedral Quarter Belfast) and Seacourt Print Workshop (located in Bangor, County Down) welcomed the opportunity to fly out to Washington DC to exhibit as part of the Rediscover Northern Ireland programme and the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival. The exhibition titled Renewal is currently showcasing a selection of 36 prints by local artists from the two workshops.

The Rediscover Northern Ireland programme is assisted by a number of private and public sector organisations, significantly led by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It features over 40 arts and cultural events and demonstrates how artists are leading the way in elevating the international image of Northern Ireland in the capital of the United States –the collaboration between Belfast Print Workshop and Seacourt Print Workshop is no exception.

Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council said, “Belfast Print Workshop and Seacourt Print Workshop reflect the wealth of artistic talent that abounds in Northern Ireland. This prestigious international festival provides the perfect platform to showcase, through the arts, that the future of Northern Ireland is creative, confident and outward looking.”
Renewal, was mounted by exhibition facilitators, International Arts and Artists in its gallery at the Hillyer Art Space and a smaller selection of the prints are currently showing at the Cosmos Club, a private social club in Washington D.C. The exhibition features the work of 18 artists including Struan Hamilton, Fiona Joyce and Veronica Wallis and reflects the styles, interests, and concerns of Northern Irish printmakers.

Belfast Print Workshop member, Elaine Megahey (from Carrickfergus) participated in the artists-in-residence at Pyramid Atlantic in Washington D.C, a contemporary visual arts centre and gallery dedicated to the creation, exhibition and appreciation of paper, prints and book arts. Seacourt Print Workshop member Jill McKeown (from East Belfast) is also preparing for the artists-in-residence programme where she will demonstrate book making and printmaking.

Belfast Print Workshop’s Director Paula Gallagher recently returned from a visit to Washington D.C for the opening of ‘Renewal’, and to visit Pyramid Atlantic Print Workshop. Of her time in Washington D.C, Paula said: “I was enormously impressed by Rediscover NI in Washington D.C. This programme has exploded onto the scene in the last couple of months. During my visit to Washington D.C I spoke to many people there who were hugely impressed with the programme. Everyone is talking about Northern Ireland, and it is fantastic we have made such an impact.” (press release ACNI June 2007).

Click Links to organizations

Rediscover Northern Ireland

International Arts & Artists

Pyramid Atlantic Art Centre

Seacourt Print Workshop

Click links to review press releases

http://www.rediscoverni.com/newsdetails.htm?newsRef=496

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/theatre-arts/article2633438.ece

http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/news/2007/new05062007.htm

http://www.gazette.net/stories/062007/entenew230748_32358.shtml