MINNESOTA CENTER FOR BOOK ARTS

Programs: Artistic programs: mcba's artistic programs and services encourage conversation, collaboration, creativity and discovery. Artists work in mcba's papermaking, printing and bookbinding studios through membership in its artist co-op or participation in its low-cost open studio program. In addition, a collegiate fellowship supports student residencies at mcba, and support from the jerome foundation funds fellowships for new work by emerging artists as well as a mentorship program that pairs emerging and veteran artists. Mcba's ongoing artist-in-residence program welcomes local, national and international artists and provides resources for producing and promoting their work. Mcba hosts free monthly book art roundtables to explore contemporary topics and provide a forum for discussing artistic processes.

education programs: mcba's adult education program offers the public a range of printing, bookbinding, papermaking, typography, and design classes and workshops, as well as a certificate program for emerging artists and lifelong learners. Mcba's youth and community education programs reach nearly 30,000 children and youth annually through partnerships with libraries, schools and community organizations as well as participation in community festivals throughout the 7-county metropolitan area and greater minnesota. Mcba regularly partners with approximately 500 classes from public and private schools to bring the book arts to k-12 students through programs offered onsite in mcba's studios and offsite in school classrooms. Mcba serves teachers by offering continuing education workshops that provide strategies for integrating the book arts into school curricula to improve student academic achievement. Mcba serves very young artists through preschool and family classes, and engages older children and teens through summer camps with local arts centers and museum partners. Educational opportunities for adults and youth in greater minnesota are made possible through "mcba on the road," an annual program that brings faculty and mobile equipment to community art centers throughout the state each summer and fall.

exhibition, shop and studio programs: mcba's exhibitions involve, inform and inspire diverse audiences by showcasing both traditional and contemporary book art. Four exhibitions are offered each year in mcba's main gallery and more than 12 in ancillary galleries. Over 500 emerging and established artists exhibit in mcba's gallery spaces each year. Mcba supports artists through representation in the shop at mcba, which carries the work of over 500 emerging artists from minnesota and beyond. Selected artists' works are regularly featured on its website and in periodic events that promote collecting. The international mcba prize and book art biennial honors excellence and provides opportunities for discussion of key issues in the field. Each biennial is linked to mcba's main gallery exhibition, which creates a pivot point for dialogue. For example, biennial discussions in 2015 examined themes that were explored in mcba's main gallery exhibition, "the contained narrative: defining the contemporary artists book".