WELCOME BOOKBINDERS AND BOOK ARTISTS

Since 1983 the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild has worked to support the development of the book arts in Canada. This web site is dedicated to that effort. The book arts include bookbinding, artists' books, papermaking, calligraphy, letterpress printing and typography, wood engraving, paper decorating, restoration, and conservation.


Betsy palmer eldridge scholarship


The Canadian Bookbinding and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG) is pleased to provide the Betsy Palmer Eldridge Scholarship to one recipient a year based on need/merit. The scholarship will subsidize the tuition cost for one foundational core curriculum course: Bookbinding 1, Bookbinding 2, or Bookbinding 3. Courses offered by CBBAG either in-person or via Home Study Guided Stream are eligible.

Application window for the 2027 BPE Scholarship is September 1 to October 31, 2026.

Interested applicants must submit their completed online form by October 31, 2026.

Click here for full details.



UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:





ONLINE WORKSHOP

Printing WITHOUT a Press with Andrew Huot

Tuesday, January 12, 2027, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Eastern time)


You don’t need heavy equipment or a big press to make prints for an edition or exchange.

Join Andrew as he demonstrates simple and repeatable techniques to create a matching edition of prints.

Then we’ll get our hands dirty trying out trace monotypes, pochoir, stamping, and more.

No printing press, no problem!

Andrew is organizing a Valentine’s Day print exchange and this is a great way to get ideas! 

CBBAG is happy to offer a refund of the workshop fee for any member who participates in the Valentine exchange project! 

Click here for full details.


ONLINE WORKSHOP

Hinged-lid Box with a Drawer with Maria Carolina Ceballos

Wednesdays, February 10, 17, & 24, 2027, 1 – 4 p.m. (Eastern time)


Make a box for your favourite notebook, scrapbook or sketchbook. The box has a clever drawer with partitions for pencils, markers, thread or whatever treasures you want to save! 

Great idea for your travel keepsakes – house your travel journal and some of the ephemera from the trip in the drawers. 

Students will learn basic box making concepts like tray building, partitions, hinged lids and covering everything with paper and cloth!

Click here for full details.




ONLINE WORKSHOP

The Mechanical Spine Binding with María Carolina Ceballos

Thursdays, March 4 & 11, 2027, 6.00 - 8.30 p.m. (Eastern time)


This is a simple lay-flat binding structure that provides a spine that opens to 180 degrees while protecting the sewing and the signatures. 

It’s called “mechanical spine” because there is no adhesive on the union between text block and spine, but instead features flaps that go through and slide against the spine of the text block and the covers as the book opens and closes. 

Click here for full details.





Kindred Spirits: The Lucy Maud Montgomery Legacy as Interpreted by Contemporary Book Artists

For the list of exhibition venues across Canada, visit the exhibition's website:  kindred-spirits-bookarts.com

The Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild gratefully acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada.

Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube (for exclusive lecture recording, Beyond Anne of Green Gables, presented by Kathy Wasylenky from Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario).


BOOKBINDING

WHAT IS IT?

Image of brass gold finishing tools being heated on a finishing stove.

Work & Hobby

Bookbinding consists of many different types of work, particularly in North America where it can be difficult to specialize and make a living.

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Magazine

EXTENSIVE LIBRARY

Image of a Book Arts Canada (Arts du Livre Canada) magazine  cover.

Publication

Book Arts arts du livre Canada is published twice a year. It features book arts events, book artists, book and exhibition reviews, technical articles, and historical essays.

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EDUCATION

RESOURCES

Detail of the face of a brass finishing tool in the shape of a raven .ARTISTS & BOOKBINDERS

CBBAG has a few curated lists of resources that we think will be of use to bookbinders and book artists. 

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Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG)

Charitable Business Number 89179 5445 RR0001


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