Starting Lines
Starting Lines was an exhibition held at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead in 2026. It was the first major exhibition by artists, designers and educators Adam Phillips and Deborah Bower, known as Foundation Press. Rooted in the North-East of England, Foundation Press’ work supports people to share their ideas and stories through collaborative making, self-publishing and risograph printing.
Starting Lines is focussed around 8 simple creative briefs which have been central to Foundation Press’ social practice over the past decade. Over the course of the exhibition, Foundation Press will explore these instructional prompts with schools, community groups and wider audiences – contributing to a changing display of prints, posters and publications. The exhibition also showcases projects from Foundation Press’ archive, collaborative artworks made with people from across the region.
The show proposes that the act of creative making is open to all, offering potential for community building and as a way of reflecting upon day-to-day life. Audiences are invited to take some time out to make a creative response to the different briefs, using the materials and resources available within the side studio space. In the centre of the main gallery is a risograph printing press which will house a programme of workshops and collaborations – adding new printed artworks and audience contributions back into the installation over its duration.