19 December 2011
DJCAD to host major international conference
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design have won the right to host a prestigious international conference which will bring hundreds of delegates to Dundee.
The 8th biennial International Multidisciplinary Printmaking Conference (IMPACT 8) will take place at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, in September 2013. The event is being organised by Professor Elaine Shemilt and Dr Paul Harrison, who earlier this year represented DJCAD at IMPACT 7 at Monash University in Melbourne.
Dr Harrison’s presentations at the conference covered such diverse print-related topics as the first printed article in Scotland, teleportation and the printing of organs, while Professor Shemilt delivered a presentation about Dundee and the 2013 event. IMPACT 8 drew in some 450 artists, academics, curators, conservators, collaborative studios, students and other practitioners from 35 countries.
The term printmaking is generally used to refer to the process of using printing to make artworks but IMPACT also explores the myriad ways in which print has contributed to social, economic, political and cultural change from the invention of the Guttenberg press through to the latest digital technology.
The Melbourne event saw dozens of speakers from around the world discuss the latest research and developments in printmaking. The speakers, world leaders in their field, also took part in a series of exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops with the other delegates.
Professor Shemilt, who along with Dr Harrison has presented regularly at this conference series since the inaugural IMPACT event in Bristol 14 years ago, said the choice of Dundee as host would bring a significant cultural and financial boost to the city.
'This is the first time that this conference is to be held in Scotland, and we are very honoured that it should be coming to Dundee,' she said. 'It is a very prestigious honour for us, and we are looking forward to welcoming these world class practitioners from the field of printmaking here.
'It will be hosted at the University of Dundee and DCA & print workshop but want to involve as much of the city as possible so will be working with other arts organisations before and during the event. The fact hundreds of delegates from around the world will becoming to Dundee will also obviously bring financial benefits to the city and help boost its profile.
'It will cover commercial and digital printing, historical aspects of printmaking, research taking us right up to the contemporary with new technology. We will then explore what comes next and discuss computer art and how new technology bring both new opportunities and challenges that must be faced.'
The first IMPACT event took place at the University of West England, Bristol in 1997. Since then it has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious conferences of its kind in the world.
Since the first IMPACT conference was hosted in Bristol in 1999, the events have been held in seven countries and across three continents. What began as a 'one off' event has become a biennial feature in the printmaking calendar, bringing together hundreds of delegates from around the world.
The Conference celebrates the international diversity of the printmaking discipline from its roots in industrial communication through traditional, fine art based processes, to the current cutting-edge technology and theoretical debates.
The diversity and quality of print and printmaking practices in Dundee, both currently and historically make it an ideal location for attracting the world’s leaders in this field. The fact there is a concentration of printmaking activity in the University area will contribute to a dynamic experience for the delegates visiting the city.
Three World class facilities - DJCAD Printmaking Workshops, Visual Research Centre Publishing and DCA Print Studio - each representing distinct yet inter-related aspects of such an important and creative subject area - will collectively confirm and enhance Dundee’s international reputation in education, research and creative practices.
IMPACT 8 will see the organising team encourage participation from print studios, print curators, craftspeople, artists and academics. Further plans will be announced over the next two years, with Professor Shemilt and Dr Harrison already hard at work at putting together a programme which both reflects worldwide developments and showcases Dundee's expertise in printmaking.
Dr Harrison said, 'The fact we were chosen to host IMPACT 8 is recognition of the work going on in Dundee, and our position internationally in the field of printmaking. It is a very prestigious conferences and we will show why Dundee is worthy of hosting such an event, and how world-leading work is taking place here.
'Here in Dundee there is a very highly regarded tradition of printmaking at the University and, within the city as well there is obviously the heritage of DC Thomson and their contribution to the history of print. Scotland itself has a proud tradition of public access to printmaking, and we will be seeking to build on this when we host IMPACT 8.
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