Steamroller Printmaking Festival

East End Arts & Humanities Council invites artists, printmakers, schools, colleges, community organizations, and creative teams to participate in the first annual Steamroller Printmaking Festival on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 12:00–5:00 PM at East End Arts Council in Riverhead, NY. [Rain date 11/8] Participants will carve large-scale relief printing blocks and take part in a collaborative public event where a steamroller is used to produce oversized prints, transforming the street into an open-air printmaking studio.

East End Arts & Humanities Council invites artists, printmakers, schools, colleges, community organizations, and creative teams to participate in the first annual Steamroller Printmaking Festival.

Whether you're an experienced printmaker or trying large-scale relief printing for the first time, this is an opportunity to create something ambitious and print alongside other artists as part of an exciting collaborative process and new annual tradition at EEAC. Artists are welcome to participate from anywhere and are invited to travel to Riverhead, NY for the festival - artists or a at least one representative of your team -- must attend in person to be a part of this festival. 

Participants are invited to carve a large-scale relief printing block before the festival, then join a collaborative steamroller printing event where a steamroller is used to produce oversized relief prints. For one day, the street outside East End Arts in Downtown Riverhead will become an open-air printmaking studio, bringing artists and the public together to experience the process, scale, and energy of monumental relief printmaking.

Participants may register as:  Individual artists, Artist teams or collectives, School or college class team, Community organizations team

Registration Information 

Application Deadline: October 15, 2026 

Apply through: CaFE (Call for Entry) 

Participation Fee: $40 per artist, team, or class (this covers materials like ink, paper or muslin fabric, and steamroller use) 

East End Arts & Humanities Council will provide black printing ink and heavyweight paper or muslin fabric for all participants. Artists are welcome to bring their own relief printing inks if they wish to print in additional colors of alternative substrate. Please reach out if you or your organization are able to donate materials like ink or paper! We’d love to collaborate and include you in our marketing efforts.

Accepted relief printmaking techniques include: 

Woodcut

Linocut

Collagraphs (Experimental, within guidelines- can not damage steamroller) 

The steamroller for this event has been generously provided by the Riverhead Highway Department. 

Block Guidelines 

To ensure successful printing, please prepare your wood or lino block according to the following recommendations: 

Size 

Minimum size: 18 × 24 inches 

Recommended size: 24 × 24 inches (2 × 2 feet) 

Common large format: 36 × 36 inches (3 × 3 feet) 

Maximum size: 36 × 96 inches (3 × 8 feet) for collaborative works, with prior approval 

Materials 

½-inch to ¾-inch MDF or plywood is required for woodcut

Linocut is welcome - rigid lino prints best (no easy carve, it will warp or flatten under pressure)

Blocks should be rigid, and structurally sound. 

Remove any sharp debris (nails, staples, or splinters) before printing.  

Sealing the surface with shellac or polyurethane is optional but recommended to improve durability (particularly MDF)

Preparing Your Block 

Artwork should be carved as a relief image or layered collagraph materials on MDF or plywood.  Remember that your design, including all text, will print in reverse. 

Blocks should be completed before arriving at the event. Limited preparation time will be available on site. 

Collaborative Projects 

Schools, community groups, artist collectives, and creative teams are encouraged to work together on collaborative blocks. If your block exceeds 3 × 8 feet, please contact East End Arts before applying to ensure it can be accommodated.  

Join Us 

The Steamroller Printmaking Event is an opportunity to make art on a monumental scale, connect with fellow artists, and engage the community in an unforgettable printmaking experience. This event is open to the public. Community members and visitors will have the opportunity to experience the printmaking process up close, meet local artists, and witness the energy of a unique artistic tradition brought to life. Perfect for artists, art lovers, families, and curious community members of all ages. We look forward to seeing your work roll onto the streets of Riverhead, NY! 

Applications are due October 15, 2026 to register as a participant for this event. Application fee is $40. Fees cover all printing materials (black ink + paper or muslin) and one finished steamroller print of the artist/team’s block. Artists are responsible for preparing their own relief or collograph block prior to the event. 

Applicants must submit the following:

• At least one image of past work (additional images are welcome) AND/OR a sketch of your design
• A brief artist or organization statement introducing yourself, your team, or your organization.
• Website or social media link for yourself, your team, or your organization.
• A $40 participation fee (non-refundable) submitted with your application.
• Availability to participate in person at the Steamroller Printmaking Festival on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 12:00–5:00 PM at East End Arts in Riverhead, NY, including transporting your carved relief block to the event.

• Open to all artists, printmakers, schools, colleges, community organizations, and collaborative teams.
• Open to participants of all experience levels, from first-time large-scale relief printmakers to experienced printers.
• Applicants may reside anywhere but must be able to travel to East End Arts in Riverhead, NY with their block to participate in the event on Saturday, November 7, 2026 from 12-5pm.
• Participants must create and bring a large-scale relief printing block to be printed during the festival.