Book Arts Research
Dr Sarah Bodman runs the UWE Book Arts website and associated projects:
As part of CFPR’s research we explore many aspects of artists’ books publishing: from the conception and history of the contemporary artist’s book to creative processes and output, current developments and critical assessments of the subject. Through our research projects and collaborations, we hope to widen critical discourse within the book arts field.
As part of our investigation of contemporary book arts practice, we publish the Book Arts Newsletter, the Artist’s Book Yearbook, a biennial publication with essays and information on many aspects of the book arts, and The Blue Notebook journal for artists’ books.
We also write regular articles and essays for external publications, give public lectures and curate exhibitions and loan programmes of artists’ books to promote the study of book arts nationally and internationally. All of our artists’ books projects, news, events, lectures, conferences, symposia and exhibitions are archived on the CFPR Bookarts website. As well as video recordings on the CFPR YouTube channel, many lectures, symposia talks or published essays are available on the publications and events pages as free PDF or audio downloads. For students we have a resources page with reading lists and links to information and archived talks.
Current research includes our Scandinavian Artists’ Books Partnership Project – SABPP (2020-2022). Some of our previous projects have included the AHRC-funded investigations What will be the canon for the artist’s book in the 21st Century? and Paper Models; and the international artists’ books touring exhibition An Inventory of Al-Mutanabbi Street 2013 – 2015.
We also collaborate regularly with other institutions and partners interested in artists’ books such as Arnolfini, Bristol for our biennial Bristol Artist’s Book Event (BABE), the London Centre for Book Arts for colloquia and national and international organisations through the ABPP project. Each year we also invite public participation in our World Book Night events.
At the School we work with library staff to develop the popular artist’s book collection and curate the Exhibition Programme in the Library. Please browse our artists’ books Exhibitions and Events page for more information.
