Wednesdays: January 14, 21, 28; 5–6:30pm CT
In this virtual workshop, we’ll take an in-depth look into the often hidden labor of publishing artists’ books: working with collaborators, budgeting, pricing, payments, sales, distribution, and promotion.
Are you interested in making artists’ books in collaboration with other artists and writers? What does it mean to be the “publisher” of a book? What kinds of work does it actually entail? What are the responsibilities that come along with publishing the work of others? The goal is for everyone to leave with an understanding of the complete publishing process and a set of tools and examples that you can use for your next project.
The workshop is divided into three sessions: 1) Idea, design, and budgeting; 2) Working with collaborators; 3) Production and distribution. Each session will consist of short presentations about different topics followed by discussion and questions. We will use free, online tools (Google Docs and Sheets) to keep everything organized and to learn how to customize templates for each individual’s or project’s specific needs. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll work through the entire lifecycle of a publishing project, from the project idea to planning, budgeting, and distribution.
Level: Beginner. This workshop is suitable for beginners who have yet to publish a book and for publishers who have published a few books and want to work on their process in conversation with others.
Certificate: 4.5 hours, Category B or C
Pricing
Market Rate: $135 (10% discount for MCBA members)
BIPOC/Financial Scholarship Rate: $68 (10% discount for MCBA members)
Pay-It-Forward Rate: $203 (10% discount for MCBA members)
MCBA offers two scholarship types for workshops—Financial Hardship Scholarships and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Scholarships—to honor equity and increase access and artistic opportunities for those who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts. For individuals to whom these scholarships do not apply, register at the Adult rate and, if you are able, consider making a donation when registering to support MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available.
What you'll need to participate
Tech requirements: For this participatory virtual workshop, we recommend joining on a laptop or desktop computer with a camera and microphone, if possible. You will receive step-by-step instructions for downloading Zoom (it’s free!) and accessing the workshop online approximately 2 days before the workshop’s start date.
Materials: Participants must have a Google account to engage with digital resources on Google Docs and Sheets.
