Compact Prints
2024 Program
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts (Umbrella) will call for submissions for the next iteration of Compact Prints in early 2024. To be notified of this call out, please sign up to Umbrella's eNewsletter mailing list at the bottom of this page, or email an expression of interest to Umbrella's Arts Administrator Amanda Galea.
2022 Program - 20 Years of Compact Prints
Umbrella most recently presented works by artists working in traditional and digital print media in Umbrella's 11th international print program. The exhibition was displayed 26 August - 2 October 2022. View all the prints here.
Previous Compact Prints Programs
Explore the 2020 exhibition archive here, and the 2002-2018 exhibition archive here.
Exhibition
The Compact Prints International Print Exhibition, Auction & Exchange was first held at Umbrella’s biennial fundraiser in 2002, conceived and curated by Rebekah Butler. The exhibition welcomed international artists in 2004 and has continued as a biennial exhibition ever since, including a number of national and international tours. The exhibition is greatly appreciated and anticipated by printmaking organisations, artist participants' networks and online. Many of the artists who have previously exchanged artworks now correspond all around the world. Compact Prints is a celebration of contemporary print practices, embracing traditional and technological methods. The project provides artists with a forum to exchange artwork and ideas. It also provides an opportunity to exhibit in a contemporary art space while supporting Umbrella through its fundraising auction. Artists each submit an edition of 3 identical prints – 1 for the exhibition (and potential tour), 1 for the auction and 1 for an artwork exchange.
Touring
Umbrella has continued exhibiting Compact Prints biennially since its inception, including national and international tours from 2007 - 2015. Umbrella partnered with Queensland Arts Council (afterwards renamed to Artslink Queensland) and toured the 2006 iteration of the exhibition to two venues in the Northern Territory and Victoria. Since then, different series of Compact Prints have toured. After Artslink closed, Umbrella took up the management of the tour. The popularity of the exhibition has meant that Umbrella has been able to regularly feature over 100 prints from 20-30 countries. Umbrella has had funding support over the years from VACS, self funding and philanthropic support by ER Hales Charitable Trust for international components.
Testimonials
“Taking part in Compact Prints is a wonderful and honourable opportunity for me to present my art and also to discover the art of the Australian and international printmakers.”
- Temenuga Hristova, Bulgaria
“It is great to have work situated within an alternative cultural context, and to make contact with other artists and individuals through exhibiting in different countries, even if I have not been there! I love to hear of the stories and situations that develop around art making in different places.”
- Natasha Rosling, United Kingdom
Rhi Johnson, After the Storm, 2020, Hand-stitched reduction linoleum print, 12 x 12cm.
Visitors engaging with the Compact Prints 2012 exhibition at Redland Art Gallery in 2014.
Compact Prints 2012 at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts.
The Compact Prints 2012 exhibition on display at Wharepuke Studio, New Zealand in 2013.
Visitors pointing out a work at the 2020 Compact Prints exhibition.
2012 exhibition on display at Taylor Jensen Fine Arts Gallery in 2013.
Tour
The exhibition toured internationally 2007 – 2015.
2015
Judith Wright Centre, QLD | 2014 exhibition | Toured and on display 20 October – 7 November 2015
Gatakers Artspace, QLD | 2014 exhibition | Toured and on display 30 August – 4 October 2015
2014
Redlands Art Gallery, QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 21 July – 13 September 2014
Chinchilla White Gums Gallery, QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 March – 1 April 2014
2013
Artslink QLD Gallery, Teneriffe QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 11 November – 4 December 2013
Ipswich Art Gallery, QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 24 August – 22 October 2013
JCU University, Singapore Campus, Singapore | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 17 June – 11 August 2013
Wharepuke Print Studio, New Zealand | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 8 May – 28 May 2013
Taylor Jensen Fine Arts, New Zealand | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 5 April – 28 April 2013
Mt Eden Village Centre, New Zealand | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 March – 24 March 2013
2012
Griffith Regional Art Gallery, NSW | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 3 November – 2 December 2012
The Centre Beaudesert, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 31 August – 13 October 2012
Blackbutt Centre Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 21 July – 19 August 2012
Tableland Regional Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 19 March – 22 April 2012
Texas Regional Art Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 7 January – 18 February 2012
2011
Dogwood Crossing, Miles QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 21 October – 29 November 2011
Gordon White Library QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 2 September – 9 October 2011
Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 29 July – 20 August 2011
2010
Yeppoon Library, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 22 November – 31 December 2010
Longreach Art and Craft Centre, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 September – 10 October 2010
Rural Transaction Centre, NSW | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 20 July – 12 August 2010
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 June – 4 July 2010
TYTO Regional Art Gallery, Ingham QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 30 March – 17 April 2010
Gunnedah, NSW | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 4 February – 28 February 2010
2009
Kickarts Cairns, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 6 April – 30 May 2009
Studio Paradiso Gallery, VIC | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 27 March – 5 April 2009
2008
Castlemaine Phee Broadway Theatre, VIC | 2006 exhibition | Toured and on display 12 March – 9 April 2008
2007
Frog Hollow Centre for the Arts, NT | 2006 exhibition | Toured and on display 5 – 22 September 2007
See more of Umbrella's touring exhibitions here.
COVID Safe Visits
Umbrella asks that visitors adhere to social distancing, visitor logs, and other COVID Safe directives and procedures as directed.
Open Hours
Tues - Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat - Sun: 9am-1pm
Gallery closed Mondays, public holidays and during exhibition install weeks.
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Contact
408 Flinders Street,
Townsville, Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Townsville, Qld, 4810 Australia
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Acknowledgement of Country
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts respectfully acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun and the surrounding groups of our region; Bindal, Gugu Badhan, Nywaigi, Warrgamay, Bandjin and Gudjal as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, share and celebrate local creative practice. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first people of Australia. They have never ceded sovereignty and remain strong in their enduring connection to land and Culture.
Acknowlegements
Umbrella is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, and by the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy, an initiative of the Australian, state and territory governments.
Townsville City Council is a strategic partner of Umbrella's program.
