Launch of the Graphic Words Project Zines!

On Friday, 26 September 2025, Fighting Words and Graphic Studio Dublin welcomed participants, staff and supporters to the Fighting Words centre in Dublin for the celebration and launch of the Graphic Words project.

The finished zines are truly beautiful and a cause of celebration over a cup of tea and cake. It was great to come together and see all the completed works and for the groups to meet each other.

The Graphic Words project emerged from a series of conversations between Graphic Studio Dublin and Fighting Words. Both organisations had a shared desire to explore the creative intersections of text, image, poetry, art and printmaking. We developed a project plan that would allow participants to create editioned zines.

Working collaboratively, poet Hazel Hogan and printmakers Niamh Flanagan and Michele Hetherington designed and delivered a five-session programme in spring 2025 introducing participants from the Pathways Centre, the Irish Refugee Council and the Foundations Project - all based in the Dublin 1 area - to the fundamentals of both poetry and printmaking.

Over the course of the sessions, participants engaged deeply with these art forms, culminating in the creation of their own handmade folded books - unique and beautiful works combining original poetry and prints. Representative prints from each participant were also collected into a zine for each group as well.

Working with partners at NCAD, graphic designer Oriana Luna Cordona designed the zines, which were published by specialist printer Way Bad Press.

Graphic Studio Dublin and Fighting Words are grateful to Dublin City Council for the support of this project.