BookMakers Congress
July 2026

 BookMakers Congress
Trois-Rivières, Québec Canada
July 1 to 31, 2026

Artists, printmakers, poets, thinkers, Librarians, book lovers, dreamers, adventurers,

We are organizing a full month artist bookmakers congress which will include workshops, conferences, cultural exchange projects and much much more

The artist bookmakers congress will take place at the Atelier du Livre, which is part of the Dragon Dance Theatre workshop and residency where Sam Kerson and Katah live and work.

The studios are located in a large house and the artists have access to the full space.

At this time, we have a few registrations and invited guests. 

the proposed curriculum integrates their interests ans skills.  Should you wish to join us and participate as a facilitator let us know and we can coordinate. 

Printmaking Workshops

We have the equipment and we have expertise in the following printmaking areas;

·      Dry point etching (aluminum, zink, copper plate)

·      Intaglio (aluminum, zink, copper plate)

·      Relief Printing, Linoleum block

·      Lithography

Book binding Workshops

Including:

Case binding (classic book structure),

Japanese stab binding,

Chicago clip binding.

Plus making portfolios and presentation cases.

Book design and computer assist: 

Using the computer to advance your book design

Basic formatting for designing a paperback version of your artists’ book

Collective creation:

We will make a book or portfolio together for the occasion.

You will also have the opportunity to advance works in progress,

either ones we have here or works participants bring with them.

Conferences:

The business of selling artists’ books

We will discuss the ideas and methods behind having our books acquired by great Libraries.

We will study and review existing lists of Rare-book and artists’ book collections,

In Mexico, in Europe and in the USA.

We will develop a list for Asia.

Web sites;  How to build one and how to use it.

Who buys artists’ books?

How to prepare your sales call.

Rules and regulations about shipping national and international

(estimating the cost of shipping and duties and taxes)

Understanding  Institutions

We will invite a book person, curator or acquisition specialist from a well-known University, Rare Book collection.

We expect he or she will tell us about his collection in terms of what they look for, why they purchase artists’ books and how artists’ books are seen by University Libraries.

Cultural exchange: 

This residential event is intended as a learning and networking opportunity for printmakers, librarians, book lovers and book artists from Europe, and the Americas.

We will work together and live together for one month.

Guest artist Roxanna Lopez will be with us the whole month, has been studying the Artists Book collections in Mexico.

Roxanna also has experience with Museums, which she will share with us.

Also, Roxana has been involved in various popular printing projects

Such as large stencil graffities. 

She has set up the lithography press and workshop space at Museo Ernesto Cortez in the heart of Puebla.  She will share her experience and skills in Lithography. 

Proposed theme for Vicente Jiménez Desales and Samantha Grivalda who run a community press in San Blas Atempa, Mexico,

They will consider;

The printing press and the community.

Young people, teachers, and communicators.

How to use the press and the atelier to expand the range of the community in storytelling and in practical information.

The printing press as a teaching tool.

Children and printed images.

We have invited Fulvio Ioan and Louisa, artists from Genova, Italy.  They will share their ideas and skills in the following: 

The Japanese influence, Why I prefer to print by hand.

Exhibitions in Europe.

The Italian print scene.

Arts and special populations.

Writer’s Workshops

 We have invited Bernardo Olmedo

 Poet, Novelist and playwright, Bernardo will give us insights about developing the introductions and forwards for our books, as well as preparing texts and stories to integrate with our images.

Exhibition:

The culmination of the month-long residency will be an international exhibit featuring the works of all the participants.

Daily logistics

Housing and workshop spaces will be integrated,

The daily schedule will be, working together in the atelier,

9 am to 1 pm

then lunch and a break.

Followed by workshops and conferences 3pm to 7pm.

Six days a week, Monday through Saturday.

The workshop will be open at all hours.

The residency has approximately 170 sq meters

Includes dormitories and kitchen

Workshop space:

Three different spaces of 6 X 6 meters

Equipment:

Relief and Intaglio press 80 X 150 cm

Lithography:  75 X 100 cm

Design tables

Ventilated Drying room.

Supplies such as various papers and inks as well as, etching chemicals,

gloves and eye protection, cardboard and cloth and Linoleum, everything we will need

Are always available here at our Atelier du Livre.

This event is produced by Dragon Dance Theatre

celebrating 50 years in the Performing and Visual Arts.

Dragon Dance Theatre is recognized by UNESCO as an NGO working at Preserving Intangible Cultural Heritage.

printmaking presses, table space for art projects, if you have specific needs, ask us and we will let you know if we have what you need

Accommodation:

This is shared accommodation;

there will be outdoor tent spaces as well as shared rooms in the house/studio

there are 3 bathrooms in the house/studio and 1 kitchen for everyone.  

The house is located 10 km from Trois-Rivières city center. This is a small city, 130 000 population. there is a local bus that passes right in front of the house, and leaves you downtown. If you need to go shopping, it is the same bus (its just that you get off before downtown).There is a bike path that you can get on just 1 km from the house, and it takes you near the shopping mall and almost to the center of town.The road in front of the house is quite busy,  Trois-Rivières is located between Montréal and Québec city, on the shores of the St-Laurence River. A 2 hour bus ride from Montréal, and 2 hour bus ride to downtown Québec city.

Studio space:

There is an elaborate Library throughout the house ; General art, social justice, human rights also a focus on the Americas,

The residency has approximately 170 sq meters (2000 sq feet) (including the basement) plus a backyard.On the first floor  a studio space that has 7 X 6.7 meters (23 X 22 feet) includes a printing press for relief engravings AND a lithography press plus the bedroom there is a laundry machine and a full bathroom with very large tub

The second floor is full kitchen, plus dining room, library and living / or more studio space and another full bathroom with shower.

More studio space in the basement. For experienced printers only, we have a press with bed size 76 X 155 cm (30 X 60 inches) in our studio- possibility for relief printing and there is a lithography press with several stones. 

Fees 

The full month long Book makers Congress is 2000 CDN (Approximately 1500 USD or 1300 Euros) 

this includes

> your meals (there will be breakfast foods available until 8:30 am, and the main meal is lunch which will be prepared and which we will have together, then there will be food available for dinner which is on your own ) 

all workshops, conferences, most of the materials ,

> hot water, electricity, internet...

you must provide your own health insurance.

A 400 non-refundable deposit is required upon booking 

no smoking or vaping on the property, inside or outside;

no pets;

​

Expectations towards the participants:

This is an intense shoulder to shoulder living and working experience for book artists and printmakers.  It is a cultural exchange project;  we expect the participants to be available and integrated into the learning and sharing process.  

How to Apply:  

Write to us at:  dragondancetheatre2@gmail.com

Tell us why you want to participate in this Bookmakers Congress residency and what you hope to accomplish. 

 Tell us a bit about your self and your artwork, include photos or links

Complete contact information, including address and phone numbers

References required

A recommendation letter from a mentor is definitely helpful