AN exhibition of contemporary Japanese printmaking has opened at a North-East museum devoted to eastern culture.

The display is part of the Japan Festival 2001 staged by Durham City's Oriental Museum. It runs until Sunday.

It has been organised by the Northern Print Studio at North Shields and, after its run in Durham, will be shown at the Brewery Arts Centre, in Kendal, Cumbria, and Darlington Arts Centre.

A museum spokesman said: "The exhibition features the work of Fusako Yoshikawa, Eriko Yamamoto and Chikako Yamamoto, all of whom have spent the summer as artists in residence at the Northern Print Studio producing work for this exhibition.

"The artists were chosen for their differing approach to printmaking.

"Fusako Yoshikawa uses traditional Japanese woodblock techniques, Eriko Yamamoto uses a contemporary approach to the traditional techniques and Chikako Yamamoto works purely with intaglio processes used by many European printmakers, although her images are very much of the Japanese aesthetic.

"The range of approaches combines to produce a rich and vibrant exhibition.''

The exhibition is open on weekdays between 10am and 5pm, and from noon to 5pm at weekends. Admission costs £1.50, concessions 75p.

A woodblock print workshop will be held on Saturday, October 27, between 2pm and 4pm. For details call the museum on 0191-374 7911.