Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.37.158
Object Name
Poster
Title
Basque Country Festival
Place
Paddington Printshop, London; Basque Country
People
Paddington Printshop
Events
festival
Date
1975-1991
Description
Screenprinted poster, "Basque Country Festival, Acklam Hall, 36 Acklam Rd, W10" in white text. Black text on the right in Basque and English reads "free all political prisoners" and "abolish the forces of repression". The largest text is "evskal jaialdia" ["Basque festival" in Basque] in red with a white outline. Above the text is a cartoon illustration of the heads of a bull and two people, one with armed raised. They are on a background of the Basque flag, which has a red background, a white cross, and a green diagonal cross.
This poster was made by Paddington Printshop, a community graphic design and print workshop in West London, co-founded by John Phillips and Pippa Smith. Between 1975-1991, the centre printed over 400 designs for left-wing community organisations. These publicised local political campaigns such as housing rights and food co-ops, to social gatherings including play days, gardening clubs, gigs and festivals. Their do-it-yourself style was part of the proto-punk ethos.
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