New Fine Binding Competition in the USA and Three Other Bookbinding Contests

This summer brings us a new bookbinding contest. The American Academy of Bookbinding (AAB) announced this July a new triennial fine binding competition OPEN • SET.

Name of the competition itself suggests some specifics. It is split in two parts:

  • Open book competition;
  • Set book competition.

Both of them have the similar lists of awards. Both of them will give you a chance to participate in a travelling exhibition throughout the 2017.

I have been at the AAB in Telluride, Colorado, when the competition was announced, and I wanted to fill out the registration form right away =)

For the set part, you are supposed to make a fine binding for David Esslemont’s Inside the Book. I have seen it in sheets (retail price $100) and that’s a wonderful piece for any bookbinder’s collection with many different insets (you will have to spend some time figuring them out) and lots of useful instructions.

Fees

You can participate either in any part of the competition or in both of them. First entry is $120, for the second entry you have to add only $20 more. There is almost no difference in the participation fee and it looks reasonable to join both open and set parts of competition even if you eventually decide to proceed with only one.

All participants get the David Esslemont’s book in sheets. Even those, who choose to go for the open competition only.

Awards

OPEN

First place$3000
Second place$2000
Third place$1000
Student$500 tuition grant AAB
Vendor$250 vendor credit

SET

First place$3000
Second place$2000
Third place$1000
Student$500 tuition grant AAB
Vendor$250 vendor credit

 

 

 

Jury

All books would be assessed by the jury of three respected bookbinders to be announced by November 2015.

Registration

  • Fill out the online registration form and submit payment.
  • You will receive confirmation and be added to the mailing list for all OPEN • SET communications.
  • Once payment has been confirmed, the set book will be mailed to you.
  • For additional information and questions, please contact Exhibition Coordinator, Lang Ingalls.

Timeline

July2015Registration opens
November2015Exhibition schedule announced
November2015Jury members announced
March 12016Registration closes
October 12016Submissions due
January2017Awards formally announced
Full year2017Exhibition travels
January2018Books returned

 

 

 

 

 

 

You have more than a half year to make your decision. However, earlier you proceed with registration, more time you have to bind your book(s).

You can find more details on the AAB web site: http://bookbindingacademy.org/open-set/

Elizabeth Soutar Bookbinding Competition

2015.08.28 - Elizabeth Soutar Bookbinding CompetitionIf you feel you can deal with more than one competition, there is still a chance to join another in Europe. You have some time before the middle of this autumn to send your binding for the Elizabeth Soutar Bookbinding Competition held by the National Library of Scotland. The last date when they receive books is 9th of November.

You can find more information here: http://www.nls.uk/about-us/awards.

You can also download the bookbinding competition leaflet.

Les Amis de la Reliure d’Art — Ocean Bindings – Bookbinding and the Sea

2015.08.28 - Les Amis de la Reliure d’Art — Ocean Bindings – Bookbinding and the SeaThere are two more competitions that will happen next year but the registration ends this autumn. Belgian Ocean Bindings – Bookbinding and the Sea, held by Les Amis de la Reliure d’Art is one of them.

Deadlines:

  • November 30, 2015: Registration deadline
  • March 1, 2016: Descriptive sheets due
  • April 4, 2016: Bindings and copies of descriptive sheets due

Participation fee is €80

You can find more information here: http://arabelgica.be/en/node/1440

Registration form (PDF)

Designer Bookbinders 3rd International Bookbinding Competition (2017)

2015.08.28 - Designer Bookbinders 3rd International Bookbinding CompetitionFor the second competition, the judging will happen only next November, but the registration due date is October 1, 2015. That’s an event held by British Designer Bookbinders.

Deadlines:

  • October 1, 2015: Registration deadline
  • September 30, 2016: Submissions due
  • November 2016: Judging
  • June 2017: Awards ceremony

Participation fee is £85

You can find more information here: http://www.designerbookbinders.org.uk/competitions/dbibc/2017/international_competition.html

Registration form (PDF)

 

It is always an inspiration to see beautiful bindings. Good luck to all the participants! =)

Further Reading

Please Support us on Patreon!

The minimum level of contribution is only $1 per month. Pledges received from our patrons cover the editing services for our bookish podcast!

Moreover, starting with the pledge level of $3, you will get a digitized vintage book about bookbinding, book history, or book arts each month from us!

These pledges help iBookBinding to continue its work and bring more information about bookbinding and book arts to you!