A POPULAR festival is set to return to Ulverston for its 21st year promising visitors a range of printmaking activities and showcases. 

Printfest is coming to The Coronation Hall from May 1 to May 5 bringing together members of the public, school children, creative students and professional artists to celebrate the art of printmaking. 

The event, regarded as the UK’s leading artist-led festival, will give visitors the chance to meet artists, explore exhibitions and try their hand at new skills. 

Organised in collaboration with the Cumbria Printmakers group, a new series of workshops will also be available to visitors this year, including screenprint, relief collagraph, linoprint and monoprint.

Printfest chair Sally Bamber said: "Printfest has become woven into the fabric of Ulverston, Cumbria, so we are absolutely delighted that it will be returning for its 21st year.

"The Ulverston community has always welcomed Printfest with open arms and the support and energy from visitors has been fantastic every single year. We hope Printfest 2024 will attract the same levels of support and, in return, benefit the whole community - while shining a light on this wonderful, accessible artform.”

The 2024 event will feature ten artists from the North West, ten artists from the North East, ten artists from the South, seven from Scotland, six from the Midlands and one from Wales.

Last year alone, artist sales from the festival exceeded £78,000 and the event spread across all corners of Ulverston, with 12 fringe venues hosting various events. However this year, 17 fringe venues will be taking part.

In 2023, 24 schools took part in Printfest and more than 600 prints from school children and students were incorporated into the festival’s displays. This year, a similar number of schools have got involved, offering more children and students the chance to learn more about the art of printmaking.

"Printfest continues to be a unique, artist-led printmaking festival," Sally added.

“We hope this year’s event will deliver for everyone keen to support and be part of this art form. Printfest aims to make artists feel valued and every visitor feel welcome."

In January the festival was awarded Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status by The Charity Commission.

To book advance tickets and see the full event programme, please visit: www.thecoro.co.uk/printfest