Over 40 years of printmaking

From humble beginnings Seacourt is now an internationally renowned arts organsiation. We are proud owners of a beautiful old Ulster Bank Building in the heart of the city and we are playing our part in the regeneration and renewal of Bangor by the sea. Our Co-founders always dreamed of having a location in the centre of Bangor and in 2023 we realised this ambition.

1980

Humble beginnings and collective endeavours

Seacourt Print Workshop was founded in 1981 by Margaret Arthur and Jean Duncan (right). They wanted to be able to practice printmaking close to home and starting small with help from the education service they established a print workshop in the basement of Seacourt Teachers' Centre on Princetown Road.

1990

Workshop number 2

In 1990s Seacourt moved into new basement space this time in the Carnegie Library building and here the membership started to grow and the first staff were employed. In this space the newly formed board and team started to develop connections with schools, offered a visiting artist programme and began to introduce people to print through exhibitions and projects. In this space Seacourt built the foundation of our reputation for excellence in printmaking and a place for collaboration and community.

2000

A new millennium

The renovation of the beautiful Carnegie Library meant Seacourt was on the move again and in search of a large enough space for a growing membership and increasing community involvement. In Balloo Industrial Estate Seacourt found suitable space but lost some connection to the town. But Seacourt has never been afraid to change and develop and we grew to cater for almost every print technique and have a reputation as an inclusive, welcoming print family.

2020

To the bank & beyond...

In the summer of 2019 Seacourt popped up in the old Ulster Bank building which had closed its doors in 2017. For 2 weeks we invited people of all ages into our mini workshop and exhibition, reconnecting and testing out the potential of a town centre space. We were warmly received by the local community and it was very clear people really saw the role of arts organisations in helping to regenerate the place.

Exhibitions