Friday Insights: Scholarships for Advanced Studies in Book Arts

Last week we took a look at the Workspace Artist-in-Residence program. That program, for five artists working mainly in other mediums, is actually only one of our two artist in residence programs. The second, our Scholarship for Advanced Studies in Book Arts, brings into the studios two to three practicing book artists, recent graduates of book arts programs who are looking for support for their studio practice. The purpose of this program is to provide opportunities to emerging artists committed to developing careers in the book arts field, and to further the growth of the field. 

Our Scholars receive a stipend and materials budget, 24 hour access to the studio facilities and free classes for a year, during which they are expected to develop and execute a new body of work.  I meet with the scholars bi-monthly as a group over the course of their time here at the Center to talk about their work in progress, to give them new ideas and resources to pursue and to get feedback about their work from a group of their peers. It's definitely one of the most rewarding programs we work on here at the Center.

At the end of their year here their finished projects and editions are exhibited here at the Center, and we hold an artist talk for them to present their new work to the public. Here's photos of the installation of work by last year's scholarship recipients Katie Baldwin, Kimberly McClure, Sarah McDermott, and Benjamin Reynaert, which were in the galleries last fall:

Kimberly McClure's Somnium

Katie Baldwin

Benjamin Reynaert

Sarah McDermott

This year we're glad to have with us Natalie Stopka, Celine Lombardi, and Sara Parkel. All three are in the midst of developing exciting new work to share with you, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the final result. Their projects will be on display here in the fall of 2012, so keep an eye out later in the year for that.

In the meantime, you may be thinking to yourself, how can I get in on that? The answer is simple: apply for next year's scholarship- the postmark deadline is coming up on May 1st and the call for entries is up on our website here under opportunities.

-Sarah Nicholls
Have any questions about being an artist in residence? Or any of our opportunities for artists? Want to give us suggestions or comments? Just want to say hi? Comment on this post, email us at info@centerforbookarts.org, visit us on Facebook (/centerforbookarts) or follow us on Twitter (@center4bookarts). Can't wait to see you there!