The first Australasian bookbinding conference since 2019 is approaching fast. The Queensland Bookbinders’ Guild Inc. is proud to present a 3 day bookbinding conference in Brisbane from Friday 7 July to Sunday 9 July 2023.

With 6 international speakers and 4 Australian bookbinding and book arts experts, we will explore creating traditional and contemporary bookbinding styles, restoration techniques, artists books and toolmaking.

There will also be a chance to visit special book collections and learn new bookbinding skills in workshops with some of the conference speakers.

Bind23 will feature our conference patrons Dominic Riley and Michael Burke from the United Kingdom. Dominic and Michael have international reputations for presenting on a wide range of bookbinding topics from medieval board bindings to tool-making, millimetre bindings and extensively on book repairs and conservation. Dominic and Michael are co-founders, with Philippa and Dieter Räder, of Book Camp in the UK. Dominic was elected Fellow of Designer Bookbinders and is a past President of Society of Bookbinders.

Dominic will demonstrate guarding signatures for resewing - including the simple construction of a jig. This procedure will be of interest to anyone wanting to repair damaged books.

Michael will introduce the methods adopted by the Moravian Sisters of Herrnhut to produce beautiful decorative papers. This will appeal to book artists and anyone creating designs for their own covers.

Joining our patrons from overseas are

Glenn Malkin of Signature Bindings in the UK, specializing in bespoke bindings using traditional techniques, will introduce his Modified K118 Binding
Mark Cockram from Studio5BookArts, a specialist in book design methods, will demonstrate Minimalist Flat Tightback
Philippa Räder of Dragon Press in Wales is an Accredited Conservator-Restorer member of the Institute of Conservation (Icon) and a Professional Associate of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC), specialising in the conservation of books, manuscripts and archives
Brien Beidler of Beidler Made, in the US, specializing in bespoke bookbinding and tool making will demonstrate finishing tool making

Local presenters will include

Joy Tonkin who has extensive experience in book arts and experimental techniques will demonstrate a Limp Leather Medieval Binding
Robin Tait, international book and paper conservator, will demonstrate an approach to partial spine rebacking
Dr Caren Florance, book artist and executor to the WayzGoose Press estate, will explore the differences and links between traditional bookbinding and book arts
Lauren Turton, curator of Mackay ArtSpace, will show extraordinary examples of artists books acquired through the Libris Awards

The conference is being held at the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland and is supported by the Fryer Library (Special Collections).

Tickets

3 Day Pass

Before 29 May

$325

3 Day Pass

On or after 29 May

$385

1 Day Pass

$205

3 day pass includes:

Friday morning visit to the bindery of Fred Pohlmann to see demonstrations by Fred Pohlmann and Roger Perry (limited places)
Friday morning tour of the Australian Art Research Library, a private library of Australian art books and ephemera, founded by Ray Coffey
Friday afternoon tour of State Library of Queensland with white glove experience with artists books
Friday evening (5:00pm to 7:00pm) Conference Launch at Fryer Library, University of Queensland including light snacks, drinks and a display of rare books
Saturday conference session 9:00am to 5:15pm including morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, trade fair and access to Fryer Library
Sunday conference session 9:00am to 3:30pm including morning tea, lunch and trade fair.

1 day pass includes either:

Saturday conference session 9:00am to 5:15pm including morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, trade fair and access to Fryer Library, or
Sunday conference session 9:00am to 3:30pm including morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, trade fair and access to Fryer Library

Optional Extras

Conference Dinner

Conference Dinner Saturday 7pm

A dinner will be held in conjunction with the conference with guest speaker.

Associated workshops

There will be bookbinding workshops with some of the presenters in the days before and after the conference. There will also be a workshop with master bookbinder Fred Pohlmann.

Associated Workshops

The program may be subject to change. Speakers may be substituted and topics changed based on circumstance beyond our control.