ORGANISERS of Printfest have announced their event for 2020 is being rolled over, in its entirety, to 2021.

The decision was taken in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Printfest – the UK’s foremost artist-led printmaking festival – is normally held on the first weekend in May at Coronation Hall, Ulverston.

Printfest Chair Sally Bamber said: “When it became obvious that the event wouldn’t be going ahead for 2020, we decided to roll it over to in its entirety 2021, which is a landmark year for Printfest”.

All 42 artists selected for the show have agreed to take part in next year’s event, which coincides with its 20th anniversary. They were selected at the end of January from 68 applications. Nine are from Cumbria with artists coming from all over the UK, from Somerset to Kinross.

Sally said “We have contacted the artists and we are delighted to announce that they have all responded with a resounding ‘yes’ to be part of Printfest 2021.”

Workshops are also rolling over. They will be held in the Ante Room at the Coro and provided by the Carlisle and Penrith-based Cumbria Printmakers group who are offering outreach workshops in different areas of Cumbria and the north west as well as holding their own exhibitions.

There will also be a display of printmaking work by pupils at the local secondary schools from Ulverston and surrounding area.

And organisers plan the largest ever Printfest ‘Fringe’, with more than 15 cafés, shops, galleries and local manufacturers putting on linked events and workshops. They will all be highlighted on a map to be distributed in the area to promote the festival.

Part of the Fringe will be Swarthmoor Hall, showing an exhibition of the complete Printfest Print Collection, created by past Printmakers of the Year from 2010.

Among the artists pledged to the 2021 event is internationally renowned Anita Klein, who was selected as Printmaker of the Year. The Opening Talk is on Thursday, April 29, 6pm in the Supper Room at the Coro.