Compact Prints

Compact Prints 2026

Umbrella will call for submissions for the 2026 Compact Prints International Print Exhibition, Auction & Exchange in late 2025 or early 2026. The full program terms and conditions will be outlined on the registration and submissions page.

Compact Prints Junior

Umbrella presented a Compact Prints Jnr pilot program for school students in 2024, encouraging the next generation of printmakers based in the North Queensland region. We hope to continue this program into 2026 and beyond. Please express your interest, join the waitlist for future years or ask any questions by contacting us.

Workshops

Umbrella will likely again present a variety of printmaking workshops in the lead up to the 2026 Compact Prints submission deadline. We can also tailor to your group's budget and needs if you wish to hold a private printmaking workshop. Follow Umbrella's social media for workshop details as they are announced, or join the waitlist or ask any questions by contacting us.

Previous Compact Prints

2024 program

Umbrella recently presented works by Australian and international printmakers in its 12th Compact Prints program across 22 years. The exhibition was displayed 21 June - 21 July 2024, with the live auction held Saturday 20 July 2022 and artists' prints exchanged thereafter. View all the 2022 prints here.

2002 - 2022

Explore the 2022 prints here, the 2020 exhibition here, and the 2002-2018 exhibition archive here.

Exhibition, Auction & Exchange

The Compact Prints International Print Exhibition, Auction & Exchange was first held at Umbrella’s biennial fundraiser in 2002, conceived and curated by Rebekah Butler. The exhibition welcomed international artists in 2004 and has continued as a biennial exhibition ever since, including a number of national and international tours. The exhibition is greatly appreciated and anticipated by printmaking organisations, artist participants' networks and online. Many of the artists who have previously exchanged artworks now correspond all around the world. Compact Prints is a celebration of contemporary print practices, embracing traditional and technological methods. The project provides artists with a forum to exchange artwork and ideas. It also provides an opportunity to exhibit in a contemporary art space while supporting Umbrella through its fundraising auction. Artists each submit an edition of 3 identical prints – 1 for the exhibition (and potential tour), 1 for the auction and 1 for an artwork exchange.

Touring

Umbrella has continued exhibiting Compact Prints biennially since its inception, including national and international tours from 2007 - 2015. Umbrella partnered with Queensland Arts Council (afterwards renamed to Artslink Queensland) and toured the 2006 iteration of the exhibition to two venues in the Northern Territory and Victoria. Since then, different series of Compact Prints have toured. After Artslink closed, Umbrella took up the management of the tour. The popularity of the exhibition has meant that Umbrella has been able to regularly feature over 100 prints from 20-30 countries. Umbrella has had funding support over the years from VACS, self funding and philanthropic support by ER Hales Charitable Trust for international components.

Testimonials

“Taking part in Compact Prints is a wonderful and honourable opportunity for me to present my art and also to discover the art of the Australian and international printmakers.”
- Temenuga Hristova, Bulgaria

“It is great to have work situated within an alternative cultural context, and to make contact with other artists and individuals through exhibiting in different countries, even if I have not been there! I love to hear of the stories and situations that develop around art making in different places.”
- Natasha Rosling, United Kingdom

Rhi Johnson, After the Storm, 2020, Hand-stitched reduction linoleum print, 12 x 12cm.

Compact Prints 2024 visitors viewing the works prior to the live auction.

Visitors engaging with the Compact Prints 2012 exhibition at Redland Art Gallery in 2014.

Visitors pointing out a work at the 2020 Compact Prints exhibition.

Compact Prints 2012 at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts.

The Compact Prints 2012 exhibition on display at Wharepuke Studio, New Zealand in 2013.

2012 exhibition on display at Taylor Jensen Fine Arts Gallery in 2013.

Tour

The exhibition toured internationally 2007 – 2015.

2015
Judith Wright Centre, QLD | 2014 exhibition | Toured and on display 20 October – 7 November 2015
Gatakers Artspace, QLD | 2014 exhibition | Toured and on display 30 August – 4 October 2015

2014
Redlands Art Gallery, QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 21 July – 13 September 2014
Chinchilla White Gums Gallery, QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 March – 1 April 2014

2013
Artslink QLD Gallery, Teneriffe QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 11 November – 4 December 2013
Ipswich Art Gallery, QLD | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 24 August – 22 October 2013
JCU University, Singapore Campus, Singapore | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 17 June – 11 August 2013
Wharepuke Print Studio, New Zealand | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 8 May – 28 May 2013
Taylor Jensen Fine Arts, New Zealand | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 5 April – 28 April 2013
Mt Eden Village Centre, New Zealand | 2012 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 March – 24 March 2013

2012
Griffith Regional Art Gallery, NSW | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 3 November – 2 December 2012
The Centre Beaudesert, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 31 August – 13 October 2012
Blackbutt Centre Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 21 July – 19 August 2012
Tableland Regional Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 19 March – 22 April 2012
Texas Regional Art Gallery, QLD | 2010 exhibition | Toured and on display 7 January – 18 February 2012

2010
Yeppoon Library, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 22 November – 31 December 2010
Longreach Art and Craft Centre, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 September – 10 October 2010
Rural Transaction Centre, NSW | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 20 July – 12 August 2010
Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 1 June – 4 July 2010
TYTO Regional Art Gallery, Ingham QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 30 March – 17 April 2010
Gunnedah, NSW | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 4 February – 28 February 2010

2009
Kickarts Cairns, QLD | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 6 April – 30 May 2009
Studio Paradiso Gallery, VIC | 2008 exhibition | Toured and on display 27 March – 5 April 2009

2008
Castlemaine Phee Broadway Theatre, VIC | 2006 exhibition | Toured and on display 12 March – 9 April 2008

2007
Frog Hollow Centre for the Arts, NT | 2006 exhibition | Toured and on display 5 – 22 September 2007

See more of Umbrella's touring exhibitions here.

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

(07) 4772 7109

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 Dealer Member 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 thirty-six 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.