Program areas at Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Education programs: mcba's adult education program offers the public a range of printing, bookbinding, papermaking, typography, and design workshops, offered virtually and in our studios. Mcba offers two certificate programs of study, to recognize dedicated practitioners who complete significant coursework in Book Arts and demonstrate knowledge and proficiency across Book Arts disciplines. Mcba's youth and community education programs engage youth through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations. Mcba regularly partners with public and private schools to bring the Book Arts to k-12 students through programs offered onsite in mcba's studios, offsite in school classrooms, and through virtual platforms. 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.
Exhibition, shop, and studio programs: mcba meets the needs of working artists by providing access to workspace and specialized equipment in our papermaking, printing, and bookbinding studios, and connections to artist networks through both our studio lab program for low-cost studio rental (weekly and monthly sessions) and 20-member artist collective (24/7 access). Mcba's exhibitions involve, inform, and inspire diverse audiences by showcasing both traditional and contemporary Book art. Four to six exhibitions are presented each year in mcba's main gallery and up to six site-specific installations are presented in the outlook gallery overlooking Washington avenue. Mcba supports artists through representation in the shop at mcba, which carries the work of over 250 artists from Minnesota and beyond.
Artistic programs: mcba's artistic programs encourage conversation, collaboration, creativity, and discovery. Programs include an annual mid- career fellowship program supported by the mcknight foundation, biennial residency and mentorship programs for early career artists supported by the jerome foundation, and a collegiate fellowship supporting student residencies at mcba.