Press Forward

A 10-month course for young creatives who want to explore printmaking and start figuring out what a career in the creative industry could actually look like for them. It runs alongside the nationally recognised Gold Arts Award qualification, but the qualification isn't really the point — the point is the journey.

Anyone aged 16–25 with some existing skill in a visual art form. This includes if you're not currently in education, employment or training.

No — the opposite, really. You need some existing curiosity and the nerve to explore your options, not a five-year plan. Most people starting out don't know exactly what shape their career will take, and that's normal.

Probably, yes. This is aimed at young people who are confident in their creative ability but less sure how to turn that talent into a livelihood. If you can make the work but have no idea what happens after that, this is exactly the gap Press Forward is for.

Yes. There's no rule against having a degree already — the only requirements are your age (16–25) and having some existing skill in a visual art form. In fact, this is a genuinely good fit for BA Fine Art graduates who feel unsure what comes next, or who want more practical support than their course gave them before they move on.

No. You just need some existing skill in drawing, painting, or another visual art form — we'll teach you the printmaking.

Press Forward is open to anyone who meets the age and skills criteria, but because places are limited, priority is given to applicants who: live in Lambeth, are not in education, employment or training (NEET), come from a low socio-economic background, or have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND). If any of these apply to you, apply as soon as you can — priority places are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you the best chance of a place.

Artichoke has been running for over 30 years and is home to a community of established, working artists. That's 30 years of accumulated experience and honest advice about how to actually make a life in this industry — and you get access to it.

60% tutored learning : A mix of hands-on print workshops, mentoring sessions, group discussions, and working together towards a shared print event or exhibition at the end. 40 % independent learning :You'll think about an arts issue that matters to you, review a live exhibition, and research artists and practitioners — living or historical — whose work interests you. You'll document the journey in a format of your choice (sketchbooks, digital, website, social media, video / audio, or a mix).  You'll receive support and guidance throughout.

You need to be able to commit to at least 80% of the programme. Have doubts or questions? Email outreach@artichokeprintworkshop.co.uk or visit us at an Open Day.

It'll help you understand the real shape of a creative career — which is rarely one job. Most working artists make a living from several income streams at once, across many different kinds of roles the creative industry offers. Part of what Press Forward gives you is a clearer, more realistic map of what those options are.

Yes — it takes initiative, commitment, and a bit of an enterprising spirit to make a career work. But there's room in this industry for every kind of personality. Press Forward works on both sides of that: you'll genuinely extend your own art practice by learning printmaking as a new skill, while also building the practical, career-facing side — initiative, self-promotion, resilience — that nobody teaches you at school.

Yes — Press Forward is fully funded, including all workshop materials and the final exhibition. We provide a materials and event budget that covers everything you need to complete the programme. If you'd like to use anything beyond that (specialist paper, framing, extra materials for your own work), you're welcome to contribute your own resources — but this is entirely optional and never expected.

All applications received by our priority deadline (Friday 28 August 2026) are reviewed and places allocated by Friday 4 September 2026. If places remain after that, applications continue to be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Friday 28 August 2026 is our priority deadline — apply by then and you'll be reviewed first, with a decision by 2 September. Applications after that date are still welcome and will be considered on a rolling basis for any places left, right up until the programme starts in October.