August Craft Month Event – Revolution in Print
The National Print Museum is pleased to announce that it has received funding from the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland towards the production of a new 1916 Proclamation plate, along with the associated work by skilled craftsmen.
The printed page has long been, and continues to be, a space for innovation, experimentation, imagination, and, at times, revolution. At the Museum, we preserve the craft of printing that gave voice to political and cultural movements.
In Ireland, the act of printing enabled us to explore and define who we are, to reclaim our national language and heritage, and to express our identity through word and image – ultimately asserting our sovereignty. The 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic symbolises how vital the printed word was in declaring independence.
In 2016, the Museum celebrated the importance of the printed word through an exhibition entitled “Seditious Types: Legacy of the Printers of 1916”; this website is still available digitally. As part of the commemorations, purchasers of a limited-edition Proclamation print were invited to a re-enactment.
For August Craft Month 2025, we now invite a wider audience to join us for a special re-enactment of the printing of the Proclamation on a Wharfedale Stop Cylinder Press; the type of machine used to print the nation’s most historic document, and to explore the role that design and print continue to play in society.
August Craft Month is Ireland’s unique celebration of the craft sector, providing opportunities for all to learn about, make, see, and buy craft.