Minnesota Center for Book Arts Review

About Minnesota Center for Book Arts

Minnesota Center for Book Arts: Celebrating the Art of Books

Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is a non-profit organization that celebrates the book as a vibrant contemporary art form. Founded in 1983, MCBA has been promoting the art of books through paper, ink, and thread. The center offers various programs and services to artists, writers, educators, and book enthusiasts.

The mission of MCBA is to lead the advancement of the book as an evolving art form. The center provides a platform for artists to showcase their work and engage with audiences through exhibitions, workshops, classes, artist talks, and other events. MCBA also offers resources such as studio space, equipment rentals, artist residencies and fellowships.

One of the unique features of MCBA is its focus on community engagement. The center believes that books are not just objects but also vehicles for storytelling and connection. Through its outreach programs such as Open Book Literary Arts Festival and Youth & Family Programs , MCBA brings together people from diverse backgrounds to share their stories through books.

MCBA's facility located in Minneapolis houses studios for letterpress printing , papermaking , bookbinding , screenprinting , digital printing , design software . These studios are open to members who have completed orientation sessions or taken classes at MCBA.

MCBA's exhibitions feature works by local artists as well as national/international artists who push boundaries in book arts field . Exhibitions range from traditional forms like letterpress printing to experimental forms like installation-based works .

MCBA's education program offers courses on various aspects of book arts including letterpress printing techniques , binding structures , papermaking processes etc . Classes are offered at different levels - beginner/intermediate/advanced - so that everyone can find something suitable according to their skill level .

In addition to classes/workshops/courses offered at its facility in Minneapolis; MCBA also conducts online courses which can be accessed from anywhere around world .

The center has an extensive library collection with over 13k items related specifically towards making books including rare materials dating back centuries ago . This collection includes artist’s books made by local/national/international artists along with historical texts about printmaking/papermaking/bookbinding etc .

MCBAs shop sells handmade journals/books/cards/stationery made by local/national/international artisans along with tools/supplies needed for making your own books/journals/cards/stationery etc .

Overall Minnesota Center for Book Arts is a unique organization dedicated towards celebrating contemporary art form called "book" which takes many shapes/forms/materials/processes/etc . It provides resources/services/programs/classes/exhibitions/outreach opportunities/etc related specifically towards this field while engaging community members from all walks life into this beautiful world called "book arts".