the_print_fest Vienna 2026

Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.

Annotation

the_print_fest is an annual event focused on the medium of printmaking. The festival first took place in 2023 at the Printlab printmaking workshop of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, followed by three further successful editions in different countries. The festival was initiated by Renata Darabant, a lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, with the aim of connecting artists, educators, and students from participating countries who share and expand their experience in the field of printmaking — its technical as well as conceptual possibilities — within an open and accessible environment.

This year’s the_print_fest consisted of workshops, lectures, presentations, and an exhibition of student works, as well as a presentation of the results of experimental explorations focused on the theme of recycling in the context of printmaking media. Under the guidance of invited guests and educators, students had the opportunity to learn about and practically experiment with handmade paper production from recycled prints, the creation of printmaking tools, principles of non-toxic approaches in printmaking, electroetching, stop-motion animation, and the recycling of printed outputs in the form of large-scale collage. The working process took place in both individual and group formats.

The printmaking festival was highly intensive, expanded the spectrum of approaches to the printmaking medium towards more ecologically responsible and technologically sustainable methods, and strengthened communication and collaboration among the participating schools.

Participating students from the Space and Printmaking Studio, Department of Printmaking and Other Media, AFAD:

• Hannah Maria Clancy, Laura Péteriová, Simona Slováková, Václav Šebesta (Free Printmaking Studio)

Organisers:

• Renata Darabant, Bianka Dobó, Gergely Suplicz, Bartolomiej Chwilczyński, Andrea Pézman (AFAD), Gabriel Gyenes (AFAD)

Photogallery