Out of the Box: The QCAD Print Archive at GUAM

Join us as we delve into the history of printmaking at Griffith University!

Reflecting on 50 years of the Griffith University Art Museum (GUAM), hear from panellists discussing their experiences of Brisbane’s printmaking community, as well as the broader narratives of printmaking in Australia since the 1970s.

Chaired by Emily Parker and along with some of QCAD's most esteemed printmaking alumni, guests are invited to put on the white gloves and delve into the Folio Boxes laid out in the gallery space! 

Where: Griffith University Art Museum. 226 Grey Street, South Bank, QLD, 4101

When: Tuesday 22 July, 6pm drinks for 6.15pm start

Cost: Free (registration necessary)

All spaces are accessible for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids. If you have any access or support requirements, we recommend contacting us before you arrive: artmuseum@griffith.edu.au and (07) 3735 7414

Context:

From GUAM’s early days facilitating workshops and residencies under the Queensland Film and Drama Centre (QFDC), to our collecting of nationally significant political posters and QCAD’s annual Print Folios, printmaking has held a central position in our history.

The QFDC was established in 1975 with the opening of Griffith University and it facilitated one of the country’s most sought-after artist residency programs. Beginning with video and etching studios, the QFDC soon grew to accommodate lithography and screenprinting studios, and employed several printmakers to facilitate community workshops, assist visiting artists, and produce political posters for student and activist groups. These programs launched the careers of many leading Australian artists, whose early practices were underpinned by printmaking – including Arthur Boyd, Cressida Campbell, Lawrence Daws, Brian Seidel, and Judy Watson.

You can learn more on our recently published online history project here!

Alongside this history, since 1984 the QCAD Print Folio Box has been an annual collaborative project featuring the work of graduating students, staff, and guest artists. Together, the folios form a unique archive of the hundreds of students, teachers, and artists who have crossed paths with the QCAD printmaking department over the last 50 years. 

These 50 years of history have been dynamic and continue to evolve. From the early days and our incredibly unique facilities that remain to this day, the QCAD Folio Box emerged and has become a remarkable legacy within the university and more broadly within the artistic landscape of Queensland. Now, as we head into the future, we look ahead to the way Cobalt Editions has developed from within the printmaking department, with its first artist in residence, Pat Hoffie, who completed the first folio box with Cobalt Editions in 2024. This continues to demonstrate the cultural relevance of contemporary printmaking practice within Australia.