Museum Graphia

The Museum Graphìa Association was founded in 2001 with the goal to protect and disseminate artistic and cultural heritage, with a particular focus on printmaking and art print production methods. Specifically, Museum Graphìa manages and coordinates the activities of the 'International Printing Museum of Urbino' (district of Miniera). This museum hosts an extraordinary collection of original typographic tools, platen and cylindrical presses, proof pullers, characters in lead and wood, lithographic stones and further pieces of inestimable value. The museum's treasure is not only used for exhibition purposes, but mainly to run a series of artistic workshops allowing visitors to experiment all the hand printing techniques existing from 1600 to date, thereby retracing the entire history of printing. Each workshop is made up of activities and methodologies targeted to all ages, technical knowledge and artistic skills. The 'International Printing Museum of Urbino’ is an interactive workshop where young people can design, experiment and learn about European history by using tools and methods that were fundamental for nurturing and expanding free thought. The museum is therefore a space for sharing knowledge, raising awareness and meeting artists, printers, composers and designers. A place not only aimed to rediscover ancient practices and trades, but rather to travel through time and land on a slow and patient universe where the search for detail and quality is the most important value. Among the activities carried out by Museum Graphìa Association, it is important to mention: - Enhancement and promotion of activities concerning visual and virtual reproduction and printmaking; - Implementation of short and long-term workshops on art print production methods, such as woodcut, chalcography, lithography, screen printing and typography; - Promotion of interactive paths on European history and free thought diffusion, from rupestrian signs to digital printing; - Implementation of training courses targeted to students enrolled at high schools, academies and VET schools, willing to learn printmaking techniques; - Implementation of non-formal educational methodologies addressed to children suffering from psycho-physical disabilities (laboratory on dysgraphia); - Implementation of workshops on social issues such as fight against racism, intergenerational dialogue and social inclusion, through the use of innovative educational methodologies harnessing tools and spaces of the Museum; - Implementation of refresher training courses addressed to professionals working in the field of art, engineering, education and health-care; - Carrying-out of specific studies, analysis and publications related to the topic of printmaking and typographic machinery; - Promotion of international conferences, seminars and special committees for the protection and the diffusion of printmaking and art print production methods; - Establishment of consortia and further promotional activities aimed to protect local cultural heritage (Urbino and Marche Region).