Jackal is one of just three venues in the North East of England hosting an event as part of Art History Festival 2026, joining a nationwide programme that includes some of the UK's best-known art institutions.

The independent art space at 30 Hide Hill, Berwick-upon-Tweed, will host a free talk by Arts Society Accredited Lecturer Prof. Maria Chester on Sunday 11 October, as part of the annual festival organised by the Association for Art History.

Running from 5–11 October, Art History Festival celebrates art, design and architecture through free events across the UK and online. The 2026 programme includes events at major institutions such as the Courtauld, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery and Tate Britain, alongside independent organisations and local venues.

Jackal's contribution, Women and Printmaking: Voices from the North, will explore the women who transformed the art and industry of printmaking across Scotland and North East England. From studio artists to commercial printmakers, these women brought technical mastery, creative innovation and cultural insight to a field where their contributions have often been overlooked.

Through regional case studies and striking visual examples, Maria will reveal how women shaped the printed heritage of the North, leaving impressions that continue to influence contemporary art and design. Maria has been an Arts Society Accredited Lecturer since 2018, specialises in pre-Columbian art and is the author of two books on art history.

The event coincides with the opening of the inaugural Jackal Print Exchange exhibition, bringing together 27 original prints by artists from across the UK, from Orkney to Somerset. Following the talk and a Q&A, visitors can enjoy refreshments and explore the exhibition.

Mills, founder and curator of Jackal, said: “We’re delighted to be taking part in Art History Festival 2026. It’s a great opportunity to bring an art history event to Berwick-upon-Tweed and connect local audiences with a wider celebration of art and its history.

With the opening of our first Print Exchange exhibition, inviting Prof. Maria Chester to share the history of printmaking and the women who helped shape it was too good an opportunity to miss. Women have played such an important role in the history of printmaking in this region, and I’m excited to learn more from Maria and share that history with our visitors.”

Launched in 2021, Art History Festival brings together galleries, museums, arts organisations and individuals for a week of talks, tours, workshops, family activities and other events. The Association for Art History's 2025 festival report recorded more than 43,000 attendees, with 140 listings from 120 partners across the UK. The report also found that 22% of attendees were new to art history.

Event details
Women and Printmaking: Voices from the North
Presented by Prof. Maria Chester

Date: Sunday 11 October 2026
Time: Doors open at 13.45; talk begins at 14:00. Event finishes at 16:00.
Venue: Jackal, 30 Hide Hill, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 1AB
Admission: Free. Booking essential as places are limited.
Booking: www.jackalonhide.co.uk

The Jackal Print Exchange exhibition runs until 4 November 2026, open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 14:00–18:00. Entry is free and prints will be available to buy.