The 20:20 Print Exchange for 2012 involved 392 artists from print workshops around the UK and Ireland.
A very brief history
20:20 Print Exchange started in 2009 as a project between Hot Bed Press in Salford and Red Hot Press in Southampton. We liked the format so much we quickly decided to roll this out to more print workshops. In 2010 there were 120 artists from 10 print workshops involved and in 2011 there were 257 artists from 19 print studios producing 6,425 prints!
Some details
Every artist is asked to produce a new edition of 25 prints on paper size 20cm x 20cm, (paper size). Each artist pays £10.00.
In return each artist receives a box set of 20 randomly selected prints, (including their own print and 19 others).
Prints could be any print medium and numbered 1 to 25 of 25 prints.
Each workshop also receives one set of randomly selected prints and one ‘twinned’ set whereby workshops are randomly matched to another print workshop, each receiving a set of 10 of their own members’ prints and one set of your ‘twinning partner workshop’.
In the first 2 weeks of November a team of Hot Bed Press members set about randomly sorting all the prints and boxed them all up in specially commissioned boxes screenprinted with 20:20 details on them at Hot Bed Press and sets of boxes are sent to each workshop.
With all packages safely received at each workshop 30 venues are now planning the launch of their 20:20.This is aimed at coinciding with most workshops’ open studios events or Christmas print fairs.
One print from every participant is kept by Hot Bed Press to exhibit. The 2011 exchange prints toured 4 venues: This year’s event is booked to tour until July so far with more venmues expected to join in. It will start of at The cow lane gallery next door to Hot bed Press on Friday 23rd November and head over to neo:Gallery in Bolton between 6th December and 27th January. Other venues include The Print Shed in Swinmoor, Hereford, The Bluecoat in Liverpool, The Art House in Wakefield and Edinburgh Printmakers.
The exchange is available for any print workshop or venue interested and is free of charge. It could be a good opportunity to drum up business for your workshop.
We are already looking forward to the 2013 exchange and even have some new workshops lined up and eager to be involved.
