New Editions
Umbrella invites artists based in the Gurambilbarra / Townsville region to apply for New Editions, an exciting printmaking project set to take place during 2026.
Building on four decades of cultivating a strong printmaking culture and legacy in North Queensland, New Editions will support four contemporary artists from the Gurambilbarra / Townsville region to develop and present ambitious new bodies of work. With guidance from a master printmaker, participating artists will extend their technical expertise, experiment with advanced processes, and create professional print editions that reflect the highest standards of contemporary practice. Together, these new works will expand the region’s printmaking legacies, offering audiences a bold, innovative and enduring cultural experience.
Artists selected for New Editions will undertake an intensive three-week workshop with a master printmaker in The Studio during February or March 2026. The four artists will be supported to create a new body of work that will be exhibited by Umbrella and potentially selected for presentation at Sydney Contemporary and/or Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in 2026.
New Editions is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
Dian Darmansjah, Bedroom Shadows, 2021, Monoprint and engraving, 20 x 14.5cm, Varied edition of 4. Photograph courtesy of the artist.
Selection and eligibility
New Editions is open to artists of all career levels who are:
- Aged 18 and over.
- Living and working in the Gurambilbarra / Townsville region (able to travel each day to attend a three-week intensive workshop at Umbrella).
Selection will be based on the artistic merit of previous work, strength of project proposal, potential for professional growth and commitment to creative development. Consideration will also be given to pairing applicants working with similar techniques so that master printmakers can support two artists in each workshop. Proposals should outline a clear creative direction and demonstrate an interest in developing a body of work using one of the following types of printmaking:
- Intaglio - drypoint, electric engraving and hard or soft ground etching
- Planographic - lithography, pochoir and monotype
While prior practise in these techniques is not required, it is desirable for applicants to have some previous experience with printmaking.
First Nations artists are strongly encouraged to apply.
Payment and support
- Selected artists will receive an artist fee of $3,855 (ex GST)
- Umbrella will cover project material costs up to $1,000 (ex GST) per artist. Workshop materials will be purchased by Umbrella in consultation with participating artists and master printmakers.
Expectations of the artist
Artists participating in New Editions are expected to:
- Be available to attend a three-week intensive workshop in The Studio at Umbrella (2 - 20 February 2026 or 2 - 20 March 2026, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm).
- Participate in planning meetings and complete preparatory work before the workshop commences. Artists must commit the necessary time to creative development to take full advantage of this supported opportunity.
- Complete a new body of print work.
- Consign the new print work to Umbrella (and adhere to Umbrella’s consignment policy) for exhibition and potential presentation at art fairs.
Apply Now
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.
Applications close 5pm Friday 10 October 2025.
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,
Gurambilbarra (Townsville),
Qld, 4810 Australia
PO Box 2394,
Gurambilbarra (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.
Umbrella is a Member & Signatory of the Indigenous Art Code. This means we are committed to fair and ethical trade with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, and transparency in the promotion and sale of artwork. As a Dealer Member and signatory to the Code we must act fairly, honestly, professionally and in good conscience in all direct or indirect dealings with artists.
Help Us Elevate Regional Artists
We champion artists, amplifying their distinctive and authentic voices. We are an inclusive platform for independent, experimental, contemporary arts practice in local, national, and international arts landscapes. We have a 39 year history of connecting artists and audiences and we couldn't do it without your support.
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) with the Australian Taxation Office. Donations to Umbrella are tax deductible for amounts of $2 or more. Click here to donate.
Acknowledgements
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. | Umbrella is supported by the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation and receives funding from Creative Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund. | Townsville City Council is a funding partner of Umbrella's program.
