In partnership with its donors, the Guild of Book Workers is pleased to announce it is now accepting applications for the Dark Archives scholarship fund. An exhibition of six bindings debuted with the release of Megan Rosenbloom's Dark Archives: A Librarian's Investigation into the Science and History of Books Bound in Human Skin. With the donation of textblocks by Rosenbloom along with Farrar, Straus and Giroux and in collaboration with Lux Mentis, Booksellers, six binders were invited to create unique design bindings. Their bindings went on display at the Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. Proceeds from the sale of each binding has been donated to create the Dark Archives Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship is designed to help expand funding opportunities in the area of Book Arts education. The scholarship funds may be used by any individual identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) towards taking or teaching a book arts class.
Individual grants will be awarded in sums up to $800. Awarded funds will be payable to individuals with a US tax ID; the scholarship can alternatively be paid directly for a student's tuition to the institution hosting the class.
Project proposals may include: taking a class offered through a center for book arts, materials fees for a university class, private study with a bookbinder, the purchase of materials necessary to teach a class, etc.
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