People Print Grimsby is the continuation of our pilot project Meet Us At Albert’s which focused on the story of Albert Gait and the rise of his print company in Grimsby. From our own research and the engagement of the public, we unearthed a wealth of information relating to our area’s printmaking past.
From newspaper printing to travel guides, from train timetables to event tickets, Grimsby’s print industry played a pivotal role across countless sectors.
The aim of the People Print Grimsby is to delve deeper into Grimsby’s printmaking heritage, a subject that has been largely overlooked until now.
The project inspired us to delve deeper into two areas:
- The history of the various printing businesses that thrived across Grimsby throughout the 20th Century, and how much of an impact they had throughout the 20th Century.
- Capturing the stories of real Grimbarians who lived and worked within the print industry. From Typesetters and designers, to Apprentices and Shop Girls; we want to ensure those stories are kept alive, to show what we can do and work towards bringing print back to Grimsby.
The project has been funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Create North East Lincolnshire. It is being spearheaded by What If We Create CIC and the funding has allowed us to employ two assistants, Amethyst and Kat, part-time, on a fixed term basis.
It will gather, preserve, and celebrate the lived experiences of Grimbarians who worked in this once-vital trade – and explore how we can bring printmaking back to the town in fresh and creative ways.
Launching in Autumn 2025, People Print Grimsby combines storytelling, education and heritage craft to document a part of local history that is forgotten, and greatly unknown amongst the younger generations. Through face-to-fae events, we’ll record memories, share experiences, and create an archive of stories and resources – both online and in person at our community art space, People Make Grimsby, in Freshney Place.
These materials will form a key part of Heritage Open Days and Grimsby’s first-ever Print Fair, offering a space for reflection and celebration.
Educational tools and workshops will help pass down traditional printmaking skills to schools, colleges, and community groups, keeping these crafts alive for a new generation.
Did you or someone you know work in Grimsby’s print industry? Do you have memories, photographs, or a story to share?
We would love to hear from you. For more details, check out our dedicated Share Your Print Story page.
We are immensely grateful for the support that makes this project possible – from The Notional Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players, to Create North East Lincolnshire for their match funding.
Our People Make Grimsby initiative, based in a vacant unit in Freshney Place, has been supported by East Street Arts, a charity dedicated to providing workspace and opportunities for artists. Further support had been provided by North East Lincolnshire Council through the Activation Community Engagement Fund, helping us build a community art space at the heart of Grimsby’s town centre.
Make sure to check back as we reveal more of this project in the ongoing project. Follow the project on Instagram and Facebook for updates, event announcements, and glimpses behind the scenes as we uncover and celebrate Grimsby’s rich printmaking legacy.