Workshops & Events
CBAA Meeting: Pivot(al)
Join us for Pivot(al), a national gathering hosted by CBAA: The Association for Book Art Education, taking place at 18 HUB locations across the U.S. on Saturday, June 13, 2026.
Linocut for Everyone
In this in-person workshop, learn the full linocut printmaking process from start to finish: transferring an image, carving safely and effectively, and printing by hand.
Quick & Dirty Letterpress Posters (June)
Learn about the history and power of the printing press as a tool for sharing information, and use a Vandercook printing press to print a message!
Suminagashi
Immerse yourself in the oldest form of marbling, Suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”).
Box Building for Beginners (In-Person)
This in-person workshop is perfect for anyone new to book arts who would like to learn something a little different.
Suminagashi: Guided Exploration
Explore and experiment with the art of Japanese marbling—or suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”)—in a supportive, collaborative environment.
Papermaking Intensive: Surface Treatment Study
Join Amanda Degener and Rachel Payne in an immersive, in-person workshop featuring surface treatment on flax paper and sturdy paper bindings.
2025 McKnight Fellowship for Book Artists Panel Talk
We invite you to join us for a public artist panel featuring our two 2025 McKnight Book Artist Fellows, Ellen Mueller and Sarah Evenson, and the visiting arts professionals working with them throughout their fellowship year!
Digital & Analog Zines
Learn to fold six different styles of zines—from the classic 8-page structure to larger, more innovative booklets—then experiment with creating your own structures.
And your very flesh shall be a great poem
Join us for a collaborative concrete poetry and low-fi printmaking workshop in MCBA’s studios, drawing on the history of concrete poetry, the work of screenprinter and text-combiner Corita Kent, and Walt Whitman's insistence that a just society is poetry's embodiment.
Polygonal Book Forms
Explore a book structure made from equilateral polygons that are hinged together to function in multiple ways, in this in-person workshop.
Binding Fan Fiction & Novels: Morning
Format and print fan fiction or a classic novel of your choice, then create a hardcover binding for your book, in this in-person workshop.
Sculptural Books with Handmade Paper
Create sculptural books—full of color and movement—that feature handmade paper and accessible binding techniques in this in-person workshop.
Binding Fan Fiction & Novels: Evening
Format and print fan fiction or a classic novel of your choice, then create a hardcover binding for your book, in this in-person workshop.
Letterpress 2: Setting Type (July)
This in-person letterpress workshop focuses on setting metal type and building familiarity with printing on the Vandercook press.
Screen Print: Guided Projects
Create an independent project with guidance in this unique in-person workshop designed for screen printers with introductory-level experience.
Introduction to Marbling: July
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (July)
This in-person letterpress workshop offers an introduction to MCBA’s print studio—including key equipment, tools, and terminology—in addition to an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of printing a message through the hands-on process of letterpress printing.
Paper Spectacle: A Pop-Up Panorama Book
Design and construct a layered pop-up panorama book inspired by Lothar Meggendorfer’s International Circus, in this in-person workshop with visiting artists Julie Chen and Erin McAdams.
Japanese Papermaking: July
Explore the tools and techniques of Japanese papermaking in this in-person workshop.
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints (July)
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints focuses on printing multiple layers and building printers’ confidence using Vandercook presses through practice.
Fine Printing on the Handpress
From the original 15th century wooden handpress to the metal version designed in the 19th century, handpresses have been used to print everything from raffle tickets to the Declaration of Independence.
Box Building: Clamshell Boxes (In-Person)
Clamshell boxes are used to store and protect precious objects—anything from books to a collection of artworks to sheet music.
First Saturday Tour (August)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
Suminagashi
Immerse yourself in the oldest form of marbling, suminagashi 墨流し (“spilled or floating ink”).
Letterpress 4: Guided Projects
Letterpress 4 focuses on planning and printing an edition (or a group of identical prints).
Stiff-Leaf Binding and Variations
The stiff-leaf binding is a non-sewn binding technique ideal for assembling printed sheets into a rigid, durable book.
Introduction to Marbling: August
Experience the magic of marbling firsthand with this in-person workshop!
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (August)
This in-person letterpress workshop offers an introduction to MCBA’s print studio—including key equipment, tools, and terminology—in addition to an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of printing a message through the hands-on process of letterpress printing.
Beaded Books
Interested in expanding your bookmaking abilities by adding surface texture with beads?! This in-person workshop focuses on how to create and adorn book cloth with size 10/0 seed beads.
Historical Ethiopian Binding
This in-person, hands-on workshop introduces participants to Ethiopian binding, one of the oldest continuously practiced bookbinding traditions.
Woodcut Printmaking for Beginners: August
Experience the process of relief printing while carving and printing your own design in this in-person workshop.
European Papermaking: August
Learn the tools, terminology, and procedures of European-style papermaking in this in-person studio workshop.
Coptic Binding 1
Explore Coptic bindings, the most common form of link-stitch binding and possibly the oldest continuously used sewing pattern for books.
Marbling with Curves
Do you feel constrained by the forward-and-back motion of most traditional marbling patterns? With a few small tweaks to the combs you're using, clean circles, arcs, and more are all possible!
First Saturday Tour (October)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
First Saturday Tour (November)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
First Saturday Tour (December)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
First Saturday Tour (January)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
First Saturday Tour (February)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints (Weekday Intensive)
Letterpress 3: Two-Color Prints focuses on printing multiple layers and building printers’ confidence using Vandercook presses through practice.
Marbling Focus: Bouquet Patterns (Weekday Intensive)
Step into the world of bouquet comb artistry with this immersive, in-person workshop!
Letterpress 2: Setting Type (Weekday Intensive)
This in-person letterpress workshop focuses on setting metal type and building familiarity with printing on the Vandercook press.
Marbling Focus: Stone and Moire (Weekday Intensive)
This in-person workshop focuses on honing skills needed to marble stone and moire patterns.
Letterpress 1: Printing Basics (Weekday Intensive)
This in-person letterpress workshop offers an introduction to MCBA’s print studio—including key equipment, tools, and terminology—in addition to an opportunity to experience the satisfaction of printing a message through the hands-on process of letterpress printing.
First Saturday Tour (June)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
Doors Open Tour & Printing Activity
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
Jerome Book Arts Residency Artist Talk
Join us for an artist talk with the 2025-2026 Jerome Residency recipients, alter hakej, Genie Tran, and Essence Enwere.
Book Artist Badge Day
Join us in MCBA’s studios for a day of book arts and earn your Book Artist Badge!
Crossing the Line: The Passport Re-Imagined Reception
Join us for a reception for our current exhibition, Crossing the Line: The Passport Re-Imagined.
Press Play: Free Printing Event & Open House
Join us for Press Play, an annual open house that invites participants of all ages to experience letterpress printing and book arts through hands-on activities in MCBA’s studios.
First Saturday Tour Template (Month)
Join us on the first Saturday of each month for a free tour of our studios.
A Radical Alteration: Women’s Studio Workshop as a Sustainable Model for Art Making Gallery Tour and Reception
Join us for a gallery tour and exhibition recepetion for A Radical Alteration with visiting curator, Maymanah Farhat
Celebrating Elysa & Welcoming Courtney!
Join us as we celebrate Elysa Voshell's incredible leadership and officially welcome Courtney Gerber as MCBA's new Executive Director.
Artist Talk: In the Field
We're delighted to welcome Andrea Peterson to MCBA’s studios for a visit from northwest Indiana! Join us for an artist talk with Andrea Peterson, a papermaker who practices regenerative and sustainable methods on land that entwines her work and life.