Printing museums and the arts of survival

Dates: 23 – 25 May 2024

The heritage of print and its many features — a history of communication, the multiple lifelong skills it encumbers, stuffed full of rhythmic machinery, and thick, inky smells — are in a state of uncertainty. In the face of recent closures, skills fading, and other external threats, this conference will question the future of our museums. Set in Tartu, Estonia, the conference will focus on northern and eastern-located organisations, practitioners, and stories not commonly told within the context of European print history.

Paying heed to the arts of survival during global and environmental uncertainty means preserving lessons from print history. Recent collaboration initiatives have brought new approaches, innovative ideas, and a younger generation of enthusiasts, transforming museums and keeping the process alive. How can we make the best use of our combined experience, fully utilise the collections we have, and connect with audiences today? With a shared love of print, how can we communicate its many faces to the wider world while remaining true to its past?

Programme

(See here for information about the speakers.)

Wednesday
Optional film night for those who arrive early starting at 18.00

Thursday
16.00 – 18.00 Welcome reception
19.00 Dinner

Friday
09.00 – 13.30 Papers and presentations by speakers
13.30 Lunch
14.30 – 18.30 Practical demonstrations
19.00 Dinner

Saturday
09.00 AEPM Annual General Meeting
Presentations and updates from AEPM partner museums presentations
11.30- 13.00 Paper and presentations
Lunch, followed by extra programming
15.00 Visit to Räpina paper mill and museum