Call for Applications: Print and Matter 2025 (Birmingham) 

APPLY HERE

Description - Print and Matter is an art programme which will run fortnightly from April-July 2025. Over seven sessions, participants will learn a range of art-making and print production skills. Each session will begin with an artist talks from an established practitioner, providing insights into a range of art practices. Participants will develop work for a group exhibition and collaborative art publication.  

Dates: April -July  2025 (fortnightly on Saturdays). All sessions are 11am-4pm on the following dates: 26th April, 10th & 24th May, 14th & 28th June (session pushed back a week due to Eid), 12th & 26th July. 

Location: The Old Print Works, 498-506 Moseley Rd, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12 9AH (artist talks will be next door at MIAH Gallery)

Applicant specification: You do not need to be an ‘artist/creative’ to apply. The programme has been designed to help self-directed individuals to create new printed work or to develop existing work through new print production skills. The sessions will be best suited to those who have an interest in art/design/film/photography/writing/craft, are open to working experimentally and are able to work both independently and collaboratively. 

Eligibility: Based in the West Midlands and available to attend all 7 sessions (please check dates above). You must be 18+ to apply. This opportunity is not open to those in full-time education. There will be some priority places for applicants local to Balsall Heath.  

Cost: Free

Deadline for applications: 28th March 2025  (successful applicants will be notified by 4th April).

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The fourth edition of Print and Matter has been specially designed for those wanting to dedicate time to developing art and design skills and working towards completing a personal print-based project in a supportive environment. Learn about art and design through a series of printmaking and production workshops. With a focus on self-publishing, create a range of art outcomes including zines, posters and postcards, contribute to a group Art Paper and be part of a group exhibition. The programme will take place across The Old Print Works and MIAH gallery (Balsall Heath).

The programme consists of a series of 7 sessions, each with a guest lecture, practical workshop (including Risograph printing) and 1:1 or group feedback. You can learn about past sessions from the Print and Matter Blog. The sessions are scheduled to run from April-July 2025 fortnightly on Saturdays (11am-4pm) with an exhibition in October (exact dates tbc). We especially welcome people who live in/near Balsall Heath to apply. There will be provision and breaks for prayer for those wishing to pray. 

While the workshop sessions are only open to successful applicants, the lecture series, featuring an exciting range of established artists, designers and illustrators from Birmingham and beyond (including Mahtab Hussian, Sabba Khan, Abeera Kamran, Lisa Rahman, Faisal Hussain, Baljinder Kaur and Sahra Hersi), will be free and open to all. Please check back in April for the schedule.

Print and Matter is supported by OOMK, Arts Council England and Grand Plan Fund.

https://printandmatter.tumblr.com/ / www.oomk.uk / https://www.rabbitsroadpress.com/

Print and Matter 2023: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Session Dates for Print and Matter: 1-4pm: 18th Nov, 2nd and 16th Dec, 6th Jan

Location: The Old Print Works, 498-506 Moseley Rd, Balsall Heath, Birmingham B12

Eligibility: Over 18 and must not be in full-time education. Applications are very welcome from anyone who is interested in the workshop series but we especially encourage those with South Asian heritage or living close to The Old Print Works (B12) to apply. 

Cost: Free

Deadline for applications: 27th October 2023

Application decisions will be made by 3rd November 2023

Print and matter is back! For this edition we’re teaming up with True Form Projects (https://www.trueformprojects.com/)  and drawing inspiration from record sleeve artwork from their collection to explore art, design and printmaking. The collection centres around South Asian music from the 80s and was rescued from Balsall Heath’s very own Oriental Star Records when it closed in the 2017. The shop had been pivotal for the distribution of music and audio including nasheeds, qawwali, bhangra, classical, ghazals and many more genres. The collection is one of the largest of the music of South Asia in the UK and was also an important site for the distribution of music being made by South Asian diaspora in Birmingham and beyond. 

Print and Matter workshops (4 in total) will take place fortnightly on Saturdays across November - January. Sessions will explore printmaking techniques (including risograph printing), the use of image, text and pattern in album artwork and participants will be encouraged to create work inspired by their own heritage and the local area. By the end of the workshop series, participants should be equipped to make their own record sleeve, it could be for a nasheed band, favourite musician or fictional band. 

Print and Matter is free and we welcome applications from anyone interested in the workshop series. We especially encourage those with South Asian heritage or living close to The Old Print Works (B12) to apply. While the workshop series is free, participants are expected to attend all 4 sessions so please ensure you are available for the dates before applying. 

If you struggle with writing, feel free to answer the below questions in bullet points or make a video/audio recording answering all the questions instead and add a link at the end of the form (write ‘video below’ in sections where a written response is indicated as *required).  

———-CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION FORM———

You can learn more about Print and Matter here- https://printandmatter.tumblr.com/. Print and Matter is an OOMK/Rabbits Road Press project.