A respected and dedicated champion of the field, Minnesota Center for Book Arts is the largest and most comprehensive center of its kind. We celebrate the book as a dynamic contemporary art form that takes many shapes.
MISSION
Our mission is to ignite artistic practice, inspire learning, and foster diverse creative communities through the book arts.
We do this by creating access to specialized book arts tools, equipment, and knowledge; supporting interdisciplinary artistic development; expanding opportunities for people who have been historically underrepresented in the field; and presenting exhibitions and educational programs that create connections around the art of the book, promote innovation, and advance the future of the field.
VISION
A world in which creative expression through the book arts is accessible to all.
VALUES
Our work is essential to the care of the human spirit. We believe that creativity is a basic human impulse that should be encouraged and recognized in all its forms, and that creative expression is core to a full and free existence. Through embodied, hands-on artmaking in collaboration with community, we cultivate deep connections with ourselves and others. We’re here because we believe in your creative potential.
MCBA engages a continuum of creators, learners, and admirers through high-quality programs that celebrate a diversity of artistic perspectives and voices. We advance the book arts field by inviting innovation, caring for traditions, educating new enthusiasts, inspiring creative expression, honoring artistic excellence, and empowering broad public access to this dynamic art form. From the traditional crafts of papermaking, letterpress printing, and bookbinding to new methods of art-making and communication, MCBA supports the limitless creative development of book arts.
Artist Collective Membership
Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is a nonprofit visual arts center dedicated to igniting artistic practice, inspiring learning, and fostering diverse creative communities through the book arts. MCBA is committed to fostering a creative community of book artists and appreciators. We lead the field by promoting innovation, sustaining traditions, educating new enthusiasts, inspiring creative expression, and honoring artistic excellence.
MCBA provides critical studio access through its Artist Collective, comprised of dedicated artists working in papermaking, paper marbling, letterpress printing, screen printing, bookbinding, and related arts. Artists must have sufficient training to work independently and safely in the studio areas they wish to utilize. Through this program, members have access to clean and well-maintained artist studios, rare equipment, exhibition opportunities, and participation in an eclectic community of fellow artists
· 24-hour access to the MCBA studios and library
· Preferred press access on Open Studio nights
· On-site storage: one shelf and one locker
· The opportunity to show work in the annual Artist Collective exhibition in MCBA’s Main Gallery
· The opportunity to participate in Art-Share sessions with MCBA staff and Artist Collective members
· 70/30 consignment-split on accepted work in The Shop at MCBA
· 50% discount on MCBA workshops (by registering two weeks in advance of a workshop’s start date; Artist Collective members still pay full supply fee)
Artist Collective Monthly Membership Rates
LONG TERM MEMBERSHIP: Require a minimum six month commitment at a rate of $165 per month. Membership dues are to be paid by the fifth day of each month. After the initial six month membership, artists may maintain their membership on a month-to-month basis.
SHORT TERM MEMBERSHIP: Short-term membership requires three to five month commitment at a rate of $195 per month. A limited number of short-term memberships are available based on studio capacity. Members cannot defer during short term membership.
ARTIST COLLECTIVE MEMBERSHIP FOR BIPOC PARTICIPANTS: MCBA is offering a reduced rate to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) participants to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. Both short and long term membership rates are $115 per month for long term (6+ months) and $145 for short term membership (3-5 months).
ARTIST COLLECTIVE FELLOWSHIPS: The Artist Collective Fellowship offers studio space and membership in MCBA’s Artist Collective for one year in exchange for providing support and helping to maintain the studios during MCBA’s Studio Lab. Studio Lab provides artists with regular, low-cost access to our studios and equipment outside of workshops and classes. Selected fellows will work 12-15 hours per month. In exchange, Fellows receive 24/7 studio access, a shelf and a locker, and the opportunity to show work in the Artist Collective exhibition.
COLLEGE STUDENT AND RECENT GRADUATE MEMBERSHIP: To foster the future of the field, MCBA offers a discounted rate on Artist Collective membership for degree-seeking college students and recent graduates of university programs. Membership rate is $115 per month for degree-seeking students and recent graduates for up to five years after graduation date.
MCBA INTERNSHIP DISCOUNT: MCBA interns are offered a monthly rate of $115 on Artist Collective membership for up to one year after completion of internship.
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTS: Artist Collective member dues are owed by the fifth of each month. Late payments will assess a $25.00 fee after the sixth of the month. Artists can pay their monthly membership fee by keeping a credit card on file or by mailing a check each month.
*If artists do not remove their items from storage after their membership is complete, they will be subject to a $50 fine.
Contact MCBA's Executive Director with any questions about membership guidelines, fees, or benefits. Anika Schneider: aschneiderl@mnbookarts.org / 612-215-2528
Minnesota Center for Book Arts invites teaching artists to submit proposals for in-studio workshops that focus on process, connection, and creativity. We're interested in participatory half- and full-day workshops in book arts and related mediums on Thursday evenings and Saturdays.
Scheduling is ongoing with a deadline for May-June 2025 proposals on February 16 and July-August 2025 on April 1. We look forward to hearing from you!
Questions and ideas can be directed to Anna Bredeson (abredeson@mnbookarts.org) before submitting a proposal for workshops.
We value a culture of equity and inclusion and encourage individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts invites teaching artists to submit proposals for live, virtual workshops that focus on process, connection, and creativity. We're interested in participatory single-evening, and multi-evening workshops in book arts and related mediums.
Scheduling is ongoing with a deadline for March-April 2025 proposals on January 5 and for May-June 2025 proposals on February 16. We look forward to hearing from you!
Questions and ideas can be directed to Anna Bredeson (abredeson@mnbookarts.org) before submitting a proposal for workshops.
We value a culture of equity and inclusion and encourage individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.
Minnesota Center for Book Arts open call for book related installation art in the Outlook Gallery on Washington Avenue for the 2026-2027 exhibition cycle.
Application deadline:
March 31 at 11:59 CST Application cycle: February 21 - March 31, 2025
About MCBA:
Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) is a nonprofit visual arts organization that supports creative expression through traditional and contemporary book arts, including papermaking, bookbinding, and letterpress printing. MCBA’s philosophy and artistic vision challenges its artist community to think beyond the traditional notion of the “book.” Today, books can be bound and unbound, fabricated into sculptures, interpreted as metaphor, experienced as installation or performance, and interacted with virtually. What unites this varied work is a focus on the interdisciplinary expression of narrative.
The Outlook Gallery: Minnesota Center for Book Arts’ Outlook Gallery is a unique window gallery space at the front of the Open Book Building, designed to engage and delight pedestrians, commuters, and cyclists along Washington Avenue. It is visible day and night to hundreds of passersby in a vibrant area of Downtown Minneapolis, close to the Stone Arch Bridge, Guthrie Theater, Mill City Museum, the University of Minnesota, Light Rail Station, and US Bank Stadium.
The Outlook Gallery measures 14’ tall by 4.5’ w x 6’ d with a large backdrop wall. Moveable clamp lights are attached to the ceiling and there are fluorescent lights vertically installed lining both sides of the window. The gallery space is also accessible through the Shop at MCBA, which offers an inspirational collection of handmade artists’ books, prints, cards, and art supplies. The Outlook Gallery fosters community engagement through artwork to inspire an appreciation for creativity, curiosity, and place.
Follow this link to view past Outlook Gallery exhibitions.
Selected artists will receive an approximately two-month exhibition and exposure through MCBA’s Newsletter and a special feature on MCBA’s website and social media platforms. Artists are responsible for artwork installation (MCBA will provide assistance), art materials, and shipping/handling of artwork to and from MCBA. Artists applying outside of Minneapolis must provide detailed installation instructions, all materials, and sketches for MCBA’s installation team. MCBA does not support travel for artists exhibiting outside of Minneapolis.
Applications are submitted through the online platform Submittable. To begin you will create a new account. Once you have created a new account you will be able to fill out the application form, upload images, resume, and project proposal. You can return to the application site as many times as you like until you complete your submission. Once you hit submit you will no longer be able to log in and make any changes to your submission.
Info Session
There will be a virtual info session for application support on Wednesday, March 12th at 7 pm CT. Please see our website for registration information.
Project Proposal and Timeline:
1. Applicants must submit a realistic proposal and timeline that demonstrates applicants’ vision and how they will utilize MCBA’s Outlook Gallery. Strong project proposals make a clear connection between work samples, artist’s current practice, and a connection to book art (paper, print, text, type, book binding, sequence, narrative, poetry, etc). Timeline: Artists will have four days to install their artwork and will coordinate with the Director of Exhibitions and Artist Programs on shipping and installation schedules.
2. Applicants must include a sketch, illustration, or diagram of proposed installation.
Images:
Applicants may include up to 6 work samples as digital images. Full images and detail images acceptable. Image files should be saved in JPEG format (the filename will end with .jpg) at 72 ppi and 1920 pixels at the longest side, and no larger than 4 MB.
Image Description:
Applicants must provide the following information for each work sample submitted: the title of the work; medium or media; dimensions of the actual image or object; and the date (year) of creation.
Résumé:
Applicants must submit a current artist résumé (any length). Examples of professional artist résumés are available at the College Art Association website: collegeart.org/guidelines/resume.
A Note to Artists Applying as a Collaborative Team:
Applicants applying as a collaborative team must provide one resume for each applicant member of the team.
Selection Process:
Submissions will be reviewed by the MCBA Leadership Team which includes MCBA staff who are themselves practicing artists. Applicants will be notified of selection in May 2025.
Please email Anika Schneider, Director of Exhibitions and Artist Programs at aschneider@mnbookarts.org with any questions regarding the application.