Introduction to Screenprinting Workshop 2026 in Sharjah

Introduction to Screenprinting in Sharjah is a beginner’s workshop at Al Madam Art Centre on Sunday 15 November 2026, run by Sharjah Art Foundation for participants aged 15 and over. It answers a question the Foundation puts neatly: ever wondered how a printed image is built from successive layers of colour? Over two hours, from 4pm to 6pm, you find out by doing it yourself.

The session is delivered in English and Arabic and forms part of the Foundation’s autumn 2026 learning programme at Al Madam Art Centre. No experience is needed, and the materials are provided.

About Introduction to Screenprinting at Al Madam

Screenprinting is the technique behind many posters, gig prints and printed tote bags. Ink is pushed through a prepared screen onto a surface, one colour at a time, and the image builds up layer by layer. It can look mysterious from the outside, which is exactly why a guided first session is so useful.

Sharjah Art Foundation sets out the scope of the workshop clearly. You explore the fundamentals of screenprinting, from preparing a screen and distributing ink to printing a design on paper or fabric. Then you experiment with different combinations to build an image, and see how the precision of colour overlays can transform a print.

That last point is the heart of it. In screenprinting, where one colour sits over another changes everything. A slight shift can make a print feel loose and playful, while careful alignment gives a crisp, graphic finish. Seeing that happen on your own print is the moment the technique starts to click.

What You Will Learn

Preparing a screen

Every print starts with the screen. The workshop covers how a screen is prepared so that ink passes through only where your design needs it. Understanding this step makes the rest of the process make sense.

Distributing ink

Next comes the ink itself. You learn how to distribute it across the screen so it transfers cleanly and evenly. This is a hands-on skill, and the best way to learn it is with someone showing you the motion.

Printing on paper or fabric

The Foundation lists both paper and fabric as surfaces for the session. Printing the same design onto different materials is a good way to see how the technique behaves in each case.

Layering colour

Finally, you experiment with combinations and overlays to build an image from successive layers. This is where your own choices come in, and where two people using the same screen can end up with very different prints.

Who It Is For

The workshop is open to ages 15 and over. It suits older teenagers interested in art, design or illustration, adults who want to try a practical new skill, and anyone who has admired a screenprinted poster and wondered how it was made. Because the session is taught in English and Arabic, it is easy to follow whichever language you are more comfortable in.

Two hours is enough to go from a prepared screen to a finished layered print. If you already enjoy drawing or painting and want a technique that rewards planning, screenprinting is a natural next step. The same screen can be printed again and again, so you can test a new colour order on each pass and compare the results side by side.

Younger makers aged 11 to 15 can look at the Foundation’s Embroidered Wall Clock workshop at Al Dhaid Art Centre on the same Sunday morning.

The Venue: Al Madam Art Centre

Al Madam Art Centre is in Al Madam, in the emirate of Sharjah. It is one of the community art centres Sharjah Art Foundation uses to take its learning programme beyond the city. The official event page includes a map link to the centre, which is the simplest way to plan your trip.

Across the same weekend the Foundation is also running Reimagine Maps at Al Hamriyah Studios on the Saturday afternoon, a storytelling and drawing session for ages 15 and over.

Tips Before You Go

• Register in advance. Places are booked through Sharjah Art Foundation’s online form for the Al Madam Art Centre autumn 2026 programme, linked from the official event page.
• Materials are covered. The Foundation provides everything you need for the session.
• Dress for ink. Printing ink and good clothes rarely get along, so wear something you are relaxed about.
• Accessibility. The Foundation says it is committed to inclusive, accessible programmes, and any support you need can be arranged through the registration form.
• Get in touch. For questions, the event page lists Almadamcentre@sharjahart.org and (06) 8845634.

Try Printmaking This Sunday

Introduction to Screenprinting is a practical, satisfying way to learn how layered prints are made, with expert guidance and everything laid out for you. See more workshops and art and culture events, explore what is on in Sharjah, or check things to do in November. Then register with Sharjah Art Foundation and pull your first print.