MA Fine Art students raise money to publish an art book fit for the TATE

Four MA Fine Art students from the University of Northampton are selling limited edition box set prints of their own work to raise money to create and publish an art book to be included in the special collections library at the TATE Britain.

Elaine Elcoat, Susanne Ballinger, Mimi Tobot and Elizabeth Tomos, along with their lecturers, Catriona Leahy and Craig Staff started to develop the art book when away at an artist’s residency at the Frans Masereel Centrum in Belgium which focuses on printmaking. The material was produced, created and collated over the course of the week-long residency and the students have visited and consulted with Book Works, a prestigious London-based book publisher, on the format of the book. The finished product will be hand-bound with a hard case and will be included in the impressive catalogue of artists’ books in the special collections library at the TATE Britain.

To raise enough funds to produce and publish the book, the students have created a limited edition box set of prints from their own work – an edition of 40 sets – called Traces, which are priced at £50 each. A special launch will take place at the Walgrave Building at Avenue Campus on Thursday 14 April at 6:30pm.

Elizabeth Tomos commented: “The fact that the TATE has expressed an interest in the research outcomes from our residency at Frans Masereel Centrum is an honour and privilege which is difficult to fully describe. As the flagship of modern and contemporary art in the UK there really is no higher accolade, so to say I am delighted is an understatement!”

Catriona Leahy, Lecturer in Printmaking at the University of Northampton, commented: “Collaborating with Book Works on this project has a strategic motivation and ensures the students’ endeavours are recognised at a professional level. Given Book Works’ reputation and quality, what we want to produce will cost £2,000 and this is what the students hope to raise with their Traces boxsets.

“Traces is a fundraiser, but has also developed into a project in its own right and has really reignited the dynamism that was present during the residency. This box set of prints means that anyone who sponsors this worthy cause receives artwork produced to the highest standards by our students. If they sell all 40 box sets, they will have reached their financial target and can proceed with Book Works in producing the art book and a digital publication.”

Find out more about the event via the students’ Facebook group.