EDINBURGH.- Edinburgh College of Art is marking the opening of its new print workshop facilities with Open Here (4-12 October 2008; 10am-4pm daily), an exhibition celebrating printmaking in Scotland. The exhibition is presented by the Graphic Design and Illustration departments at the College, and is part of the wider festival 500 YEARS of PRINTING (1508-2008), which includes exhibitions, events and workshops across Scotland.

Earlier this year following the sale of the College’s Drawing & Painting building in Inverleith, printmaking facilities were centralised in the main building at Lauriston Place. The new workshop provides a full-range of printmaking facilities, ranging from the traditional and hand-operated machines including the rare Columbian press (which dates from 1831) to state-of-the-art digital technology. Used primarily by students in Graphic Design, Illustration and Drawing & Painting, the workshop is open to all students at Edinburgh College of Art for tuition in producing art works including handmade books, screenprints, etchings and woodcuts.

The Open Here exhibition is the ideal opportunity for Edinburgh College of Art to present its new facilities to the public, and showcase staff and student work while marking the 500th anniversary of printing in Scotland. Alongside a display of staff work entitled ‘Imprint’, where staff responded to an open brief to produce a limited edition print celebrating the anniversary, there will be additional displays of student work, artefacts and memorabilia, and opportunities to see artwork produced ‘hot off the press’.

Open Here… Weekend Workshops - 11am-1pm on Saturday 4, Sunday 5, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 October. Open workshops where the public can observe practitioners in the Print Workshop, and gain a valuable insight into printmaking processes including relief printing, lithography, screen-printing and intaglio.

Zoe Patterson, Head of Graphic Design at Edinburgh College of Art, says: ‘The new print facility provides a great insight into the processes of printmaking. Students from all disciplines will benefit from this revamped resource. As primary users the Graphic Design and Illustration Departments will hit the ground running with projects set to explore the various techniques on offer.’