Screen Printing as Protest Workshop

Print as Protest is an accessible introduction to screen printing that explores the rich history of printmaking as a tool for activism, social movements, and political expression. Central to the workshop is an exploration of the power of text: how words, slogans, and statements can become images in their own right. Through typography, scale, repetition, and graphic composition, text can communicate urgency, solidarity, resistance, and hope. From protest placards and political posters to artist manifestos and public interventions, printed language has long been used to challenge authority, amplify marginalised voices, and mobilise communities.Participants will examine how artists, activists, and designers have transformed text into compelling visual forms, considering not only what messages are communicated but how they are seen, felt, and remembered. Through discussion and practical experimentation, participants will develop their own graphic responses to contemporary issues, translating words and ideas into bold printed works.From suffragette posters and labour movement graphics to contemporary climate activism and social justice campaigns, the workshop examines how printed images have long been used to communicate ideas, challenge power, and build collective voices.Beginners are warmly welcomed, and all technical processes will be demonstrated step-by-step.Audience This workshop is suitable for:

• Complete beginners
• Artists and makers interested in printmaking
• Community activists and campaigners
• Anyone interested in visual culture, social history, and creative expression

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Understand the basic principles and history of screen printing
• Explore examples of protest and activist printmaking
• Develop a simple graphic design or slogan suitable for screen printing
• Learn how to prepare artwork for a screen
• Gain hands-on experience in printing using screen printing techniques
• Produce a small edition of prints to take home
• Reflect on the role of printmaking as a form of communication and resistance

Please note: Public dates for this class require at least 5 guests to run. In the unlikely event that we don't reach this number, we may cancel the session; if that happens, we'll inform you and let you choose between a refund or reschedule, so please watch your email/SMS one day prior to the class. All materials included. Read more details