The 2016 Print Awards are open to all British and international artists’ working in print. The Print Awards do not seek to define printmaking but invite submissions from artists working in a range of print-related media including works on paper, 2D, 3D, video, installation and site-specific works – making for the most diverse and exciting printmaking event in the UK.

The Print Awards are the centrepiece of the International Print Biennale. Created by Northern Print in 2009, the Biennale showcases the broad spectrum of contemporary printmaking across the globe, through an extensive programme of exhibitions, events, activities and an international symposium, held across the North East of England. It is the only event on this scale for printmaking in the UK, and since its inception has established itself as the key event for printmakers in the international arts calendar.

The third edition of the Biennale’s Print Awards (2014) welcomed submissions from over 740 artists from 42 different countries. The exhibitions across 25 venues for International Print Biennale attracted over 130,000 visitors.

Entries for the 2016 Print Awards will be judged by a distinguished and experienced panel: renowned German artist Christiane Baumgartner; David Cleaton-Roberts, co-Director of Alan Cristea Gallery, London; Swedish-born Sune Nordgren, Founding Director of BALTIC, the Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England. The exhibition of selected works will be shown as part of the International Print Biennale across three galleries in Newcastle upon Tyne; Northern Print and The University Gallery at Northumbria Newcastle, and Vane. The exhibition opens on 16th September and runs until 30 October 2016. The intention is to show a body of work from each selected artist giving a context to the works in the exhibition.

The three selectors have also chosen one artist each to exhibit their work at this year’s Biennale: these are Italian artist Marina Bindella (chosen by Christiane Baumgartner), UK-based Cornelia Parker OBE RA (chosen by David Cleaton-Roberts), and Danish-born Adam Saks (chosen by Sune Nordgren).

Prizes

The 2016 Print Awards comprise a range of residency, bursary and generous purchase prizes from high-profile institutions renowned within the printmaking world. These include the Bryan Robertson Trust Award, the Northern Print International Residency Prize, the Paupers Press Residency Prize, the Clifford Chance Purchase Prize, the Printmaking Today Prize and the V&A Print Prize. These opportunities have a major impact on artists and their working practice, not only financially, but also in terms of increased profile, leading to new opportunities to sell, show, and develop their work.

How to enter

Artists are asked to submit a current CV, an artist statement and up to 10 images or documentation of their recent work, a series or sequence of works. The entry fee is £25 per artist.

For further details and to apply please visit: ipbprintawards.artopps.co.uk

Deadline for Entries: 20 June 2016, 17.00 BST

To see more information about the International Print Biennale programme please visit: