Participate in Compact Prints 2026

International Print Exhibition, Auction and Exchange

Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts invites artists working in traditional and digital print media to participate in our latest international print program. Compact Prints 2026 celebrates contemporary print practices while offering a forum to exchange artwork and ideas. The program provides artists an opportunity to connect with an expansive printmaking community and exhibit in a contemporary gallery (with The Studio downstairs featuring lithographic and etching presses, and an analogue photographic darkroom). 

Each artist contributes three prints: one is exhibited (and kept by Umbrella for archiving and potential touring); one is auctioned as a fundraiser for Umbrella and to assist with event costs; and one print is posted as an artwork exchange with another participant, through a random selection process. The exhibition, artworks and details will also be documented and presented digitally for international and Australian audiences to explore. Explore the previous years' prints, exhibitions and more details here.

PROGRAM OUTLINE
1. Register to participate by 5pm Friday 9 October 2026
2. Artists create their prints
3. Submit print details online by 5pm Friday 9 October 2026
4. Artists deliver their prints by 5pm Friday 23 October 2026
5. Exhibition on display 6 November – 13 December 2026
6. Auction Saturday 12 December 2026
7. Return of exchange prints following the exhibition closure

1. REGISTRATION
To register, artists must pay the $30 AUD administration fee by 5pm AEST Friday 9 October 2026. Each artist is limited to one registration. Please keep the order number from the email you receive and list it in your submission as your proof of payment.
If you are based in a country banned from the VISA and MasterCard networks or severely impacted by military conflict, please contact us as we can waive your registration fee.

REGISTER NOW

2. PRINT CREATION
Participating artists need to provide three prints from one artwork edition. The paper size of each print must measure 12 x 12cm however the print may be any size on that paper (including full-page bleeds). Prints that are oversized may be omitted or cropped by Umbrella. Prints can include other materials or methods (e.g. chine-collé, stitching) provided that a form of printing is the primary method, and that each of the three prints is identical. Umbrella encourages artists to print on high-quality acid-free paper. Digital prints cannot just be photographs - they must be manipulated before printing. There is no set theme however Umbrella reserves the right to monitor or exclude work that may cause offence to the general public. The prints must be newly created after 1 January 2025.

3. SUBMISSION
Artists must submit their complete print details by 5pm Friday 9 October 2026 via the form on this page. 

4. DELIVERY
Each artists' three identical prints (from the 1 edition) must be received by Umbrella by 5pm AEST Friday 23 October 2026. 
In person: Artists delivering in person can deliver to 408 Flinders St, Gurambilbarra / Townsville, QLD, Australia during Umbrella's usual opening hours of 9am-5pm Tues-Fri and 9am-1pm weekends (excepting closures for public holidays and install weeks).
Postal deliveries: Artists posting their prints should send to Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts, PO Box 2394, Gurambilbarra / Townsville, QLD, Australia, 4810. Umbrella recommends that artists based outside of Australia should send works with at least 6 weeks' lead time (by Friday 11 September 2026) and Australian artists should send with at least 2 weeks' lead time (by Friday 9 October 2026). Umbrella encourages entrants to use Express Post if required, as prints received after the due date will not be accepted.  

5. EXHIBITION
The Compact Prints exhibition will be on display at Umbrella from the exhibition launch 6-8pm Friday 6 November – 1pm Sunday 13 December 2026. 

6. AUCTION
The 2026 auction will be held live and in person at Umbrella on Saturday 12 December 2026 (the last weekend of the exhibition). Full details will be confirmed closer to the exhibition date. 

7. RETURN OF EXCHANGE PRINTS
Following the exhibition closure, Umbrella will select pairings for artwork exchanges using an automated, randomised process. Each participant will receive a letter detailing the print they are receiving, and which artist received their exchange print. 

TERMS & CONDITIONS
By participating, registering and submitting artwork images and details, artists agree to adhere to all terms and conditions as outlined above and below.

1. The project, artwork restrictions, registration, artwork details and artwork delivery details are all outlined on this page and must be adhered to by participants. Umbrella reserves the right to postpone or extend dates for COVID-19 restrictions or any other reason, and will update the dates and details on this page at that point if applicable.
2. Umbrella's staff and volunteers will handle all works with care. However, works are exhibited at the artist's own risk and Umbrella accepts no liability for loss or damage to works in transit, storage, handling or exhibition except where required by law.
3. The $30.00 AUD registration fee (GST inclusive) is required for all Australian and international participants. Registration name and contact details must be included with the payment. The fee secures each artist's participation, administration fees and postage for the exchange. It is non-refundable if for any reason the artist is unable to participate after submission of payment. 
4. The submission details including postal address must be current and correct to ensure that your exchange print will be sent to the correct address. If an artist's contact details change, they must email updated details to [email protected] by Friday 9 October 2026.
5. Each artist must (and is limited to) present 1 artwork edition with three prints.
6. The artist agrees to notify Umbrella if unable to enter their work by the deadline to complete the exchange. This may allow for another artist to participate.
7. Artist participants are responsible for the cost of producing the work and posting or delivering them to Umbrella. International payment providers may take additional fees outside of Umbrella's control and any customs declarations and fees are the responsibility of the artist. Umbrella will pay the return postage of the exchange print via Australia Post.
8. Artists agree to include their prints in the exhibition in Umbrella's gallery (and any potential subsequent tours), and to have their work reproduced online and in print (including promotional, archival, educational and documentation purposes) indefinitely. Should an artist's image be reproduced for such purposes, Umbrella may crop images, and images may appear on websites, social media, catalogues, educational materials, etc. Artist and artwork attribution will be provided where practical.
9. The exhibited print becomes the property of Umbrella. Umbrella may retain, archive, exhibit, loan, tour, auction, gift or otherwise dispose of the work at its discretion. Copyright remains with the artist unless otherwise agreed.
10. For auctioned works, Umbrella retains 100% of the sale proceeds and unsold works become Umbrella property. Each work will have a starting bid of $20.
11. Umbrella reserves the right to exclude, withdraw, reallocate or otherwise deal with works that are non-compliant, damaged, lost, received after the deadline, or otherwise unavailable for exhibition, auction or exchange. Umbrella's decisions regarding the administration of the program are final.

Hannah Murray, Golden Orchid Society, 2016, Hand-coloured etching, 12 x 12cm.

Barbara Pierce, Night Sky (detail), 2016, Digital print, 12 x 12cm.

Catherine Chui, Transience, 2006, Digital print, 12 x 12cm.

Kate Zizys, A Boat Full of Bees, 2006, Lithograph, 12 x 12cm.

Paula Mcloughlin, Cloud, 2016, Screenprint, 12 x 12cm.

Printmaking Workshops

Umbrella will again be presenting a printmaking workshop in the lead up to the submission deadline. Follow Umbrella's social media for workshop details as they are announced, or join the waitlist by contacting us.

Compact Prints Junior

Umbrella is encouraging the next generation of printmakers with a dedicated program for school students based in the North Queensland region. The full details and forms are available here. Please join the waitlist for future years or if you wish to ask any questions by contacting us. 

Artwork submissions are now open

Print details must be submitted by 5pm (AEST) Friday 9 October 2026 using the form below. Please ensure that your artwork image is of a high-resolution and that your contact / address details are current.
Ensure you draft your application in a Word Document. This will ensure that you have it as a backup if your computer or technology with the online form glitches.