2011 International Print Awards - Entries Deadline 6th June

Tethered (2008) by Rachel Gross

The deadline for entries for The 2011 International Print Awards is 6th June 2011.  The awards are a pivotal part of the 2nd International Print Biennale being held in Newcastle and Gateshead in September 2011.


All about the International Print Biennale

 There are absolutely oodles of "International Biennales", including a number of International Print Biennales around the world.

"Biennale" - for those for those who don't like to ask - means is Italian for "every other year" and is frequently used for events which happen every two years.  If they happen in the UK they're usually referred to as a Biennial - because we speak english not Italian - but, hey, it sounds good in Italian!

I'm not quite sure why but none of the International Print Biennales ever seem to see any need to distinguish which is which in the name of their exhibition or competition.  Maybe it's because of where they're held.  I guess if it's in Venice you want to make it part of the title - but not if it's somewhere like Tokyo or Varna?  Odd.

This one can't quite make its mind up.  In 2009 it was known as the Northern Print Biennale which seemed pretty much like an OK name to me.

Northern Print Biennale was the first major event for international printmaking in the UK since Bradford British International Print Biennale almost 20 years ago. 

Now, in 2011, it seems to want to drop the "Northern" bit and go with plain old "International" instead - which to my mind actually makes it a bit less distinctive.  I think I prefer the tone set by the Bradford one (see quote) but the its got the advantage of a bit of alliteration! 

However use of the word International does reinforce the nature of the submissions they received last time

When devising the 2009 Print Awards, we purposefully didn’t define ‘print’. The call for entries invited ‘all artists whose work encounters print’ to submit. We received a tremendous response from over 800 artists in 32 countries.

Anyway here are the key facts about the International Print Biennale

• sponsored by the Arts Council and Northern Print which is a not for profit enterprise supported by the Arts Council with a gallery and printmaking studio situated in  Newcastle's Ouseburn Valley.  See Facebook,  Twitter, and  Flickr
• In 2009, they had  
• over 200 artists from 32 countries submitted work
• 95,000 visitors to the inaugural exhibition
• a one-day print symposium
• In 2011:
• the first prize in 2011 is £5,000 
• definition of print left open 
• Works in any medium will be considered and is not restricted to 2 or 3 dimensional works.
• the overal aims of the competition and exhibition are laudable

The aim is to reward and promote excellence through showcasing the very best in new British and international printmaking through an extensive programme in Newcastle Gateshead of exhibitions, events, activities and an international symposium.  With over 95,000 visitors this inaugural Biennale was a huge success and we are delighted to announce the 2nd International Print Biennale.
International Print Biennale 2011

Read on to find out how to enter

How to enter the International Print Awards

The International Print Biennale has a very nice website - however at the moment it's a bit mixed up between 2009 and 2011 and needs a little bit of a spring clean - and it lacks details about submitting work for the International Print Awards.

At present the website to focus on for details of how to enter is this Parker Harris website for the International Print Awards.  This provides all the details you need to know if you decide to submit a work.

• General Information
• Rules and Conditions of Entry
• Help and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Contact details  | Links

What do you mean by the term encounters print?

The International Print Awards are open to artists' interpretation of contemporary print processes including 2D, 3D, video, installation and site specific work.

Here's a summary of the Stage 1 - initial selection process

• digital entry preferred (however those unable to do so can be assisted to enter in other ways - contact Parker Harris)
• you can enter up to 10 images or documentation of recent work, a series or sequence of works where the work encounters print.
• initial submission requires:
• The completed online entry form
• Images of a max of 10 recent works, series or sequence of works in digital format (jpg, tiff or png max 500kb)
• An up to date supporting CV (maximum of one side of A4)
• A supporting statement (max 200 words)
• A non-refundable £25 or €30 euros application fee per artist will be charged for administration. (ie per artist not per work!).  You can pay by paypal or credit card.
• deadline for entries:  6th June 2011
• From the open submission applications the panel will select approximately 40 artists. Some artists may be required to supply additional information or in some cases actual work for viewing prior to selection. This will be organised individually with each artist.
• 27th June - artists notified of the outcome of the first state selection process
• 15th July 2011 - Selected artists and artworks confirmed for exhibition

Your summary of your printmaking, artwork and yourself needs to be crisp and succinct

• 200 words maximum for the artist statement (if the thought of producing one of these gives you wobbly knees or worse see my info site How to Write an Artist's Statement for helpful advice and links to lots more helpful advice)
• a one page artist's CV needs to be submitted (file types accepted: .doc, .docx, pdf, .txt, .rtf)  Again if you don't like doing these try How to write an Artist's Resume or CV

Key Dates

• 6 June 2011: Deadline for entry 
• 27 June 2011: All artists notified of first stage selection process 
• 15 July 2011: Selected artists and artworks confirmed for exhibition 
• 17 September - 19 November: Exhibitions open to public 
• 24 September 2011: Private View and Prize Winners announced

The Selectors

The selectors are

• Patrice Cotensin, Galerie Lelong, Paris
• Peter Randall-Page, artist
• Mike Taylor, Paupers Press

The Awards

The prizes available to artists entering work include:

• £5000 Northern Print Award - A cash prize awarded to one artist.
• Northern Print International Residency Prize*  This is a short residency open to non-UK based artists. This prize will include travel and accommodation to use Northern Print’s printmaking studio in Newcastle upon Tyne.
• V&A Print Prize (V&A Website Feature) *  The winning print would be featured on V&A website with text about the print by Gill Saunders, Senior Curator (Prints).  Note: The selected print will require the artist to donate their print to the V&A collection. 

The 2011 International Print Awards will include a number of residency, bursary and purchase prizes.  Further information about the Prizes will be updated as they are confirmed.  

The Exhibitions

Three exhibitions of selected works will be held between 17 September to 19 November 2011 at the following galleries.  Selected works will be exhibited in:

• Hatton Gallery - The Quadrangle, University of Newcastle. Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear NE1 7RU 
• Laing Art Gallery New Bridge Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE1 8AG 
• Northern Print Stepney Bank, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2NP

For further information contact Parker Harris