Professional Development
Witness Tree Project
The Witness Tree Project is an Art/Science commission opportunity in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin (TCD) Botanical Gardens, brought to us by TCD Botany Professor Jennifer McElwain.
Witness Tree Project
Art/Science collaboration with Trinity College Dublin
National Gallery of Ireland guided tours
In recent years, Black Church Print Studio members have have attended guided curatorial tours several exhibibitions in the National Gallery of Ireland. These have included Picasso: From the Studio, Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone – The Art of Friendship, and Turning Heads: Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer. These tour initiatives are devised to encourage contemporary artists to engage with temporary exhibitions and support their use of the Gallery as a resource and site of inspiration for research and practice.
2026
Guided Tour of Picasso: From the Studio
2025
Guided Tour of Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone – The Arts of Friendship
In May 2025, Black Church Print Studio members were taken on a guided tour of Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone – The Art of Friendship by curator Sarah McAuliffe. Members saw 90 works of art that explored Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone’s friendship and shared experiences while studying in Paris during the early 1920s, and traces their careers back to Ireland.
2024
Guided Tour of Turning Heads: Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer
In April 2024, Black Church Print Studio members were taken on a guided tour of Turning Heads: Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer by Dr. Lizzie Marx, co-curator of the exhibition, and curator of Flemish and Dutch art at the National Gallery of Ireland.
Print Network Ireland
Print Network Ireland (PNI) is a shared strategic ambition among print studios in Ireland to work together for the collective benefit of the printmaking sector. As part of PNI’s programme of events, members of printmaking studios have the opportunity to take part in exhibitions, residencies, workshops, and professional development events.
Residencies
About residencies
Print Network Ireland facilitates a number of residencies in Ireland and abroad. Inter-studio residencies and institutional residencies are available each year. Members have the opportunity to take part in a residency in any of the four PNI print studios, spending up to two months developing a project. Residencies in the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Co. Monaghan; Burren College of Art, Co. Clare; and Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris are also available to members.
Inter-studio residencies
The Black Church Print Studio residencies were awarded to BAN-EEE-UKT (Cork Printmakers) in 2025 and Conor Gallagher (Graphic Studio Dublin) in 2026.
In 2026 Black Church Print Studio member Sophie Carroll-Hunt will undertake a residency in Limerick Printmakers, Viola Chiang will travel to Cork Printmakers, and Brian Giles will complete a residency in Graphic Studio Dublin.
Institutional residencies
The 2025 Tyrone Guthrie Centre residency and 2026 Burren College of Art residency were awarded to BCPS member Emily Mc Gardle.
Masterclasses
About masterclasses
Masterclasses in a wide range of printmaking techniques have taken place in Black Church Print Studio and other print studios which were attended by BCPS members. Spitbite etching, photoetching, hydroprint, electroetch, Mokuhanga, and lasercut woodblock (in association with Creative Spark Print Studio and FabLab in Dundalk) are among the workshops offered over the past three years.
Exhibitions
About exhibitions
Print Network Ireland was officially launched in September 2023 at the NETWORK exhibition curated by Sara Dowling in The Library Project in Temple Bar. Ten artists from PNI print studios (including three BCPS members) were selected from an open call for the exhibition which showcased a diverse collection of print and expanded print media.
Exhibitions for PNI studio members have previously taken place in the Graphic Studio Gallery in Dublin, including Monochromatic in 2024, and Leaning on the Line in 2025.
Professional Development
About Professional Development
Black Church Print Studio members have the opportunity to take part in Print Network Ireland professional development events which take place both online and in-person. Invited speakers have delivered artist talks, and workshops on topics such as application writing, and preparing documents for grant applications.
In 2023/2024, a group of PNI print studio members took place in a crit group over a period of 5 months. This was facilitated by Ria Czerniak-LeBov and Niamh Flanagan, and provided an opportunity for the artists to share and discuss work in a constructive and supportive environment.