Excited to Learn at the American Academy of Bookbinding in Telluride this...

I’m so excited!! I’ll be traveling to Telluride to study at the American Academy of Bookbinding (AAB) for one week in June and two full weeks in July. This is a dream come true! I can’t wait to tell you all about it! If you’re a newer book maker or just new to the AAB, let me share some basic details first.

What is the American Academy of Bookbinding (AAB)?

Three of the world’s most experienced bookbinders founded the AAB in 1993. The school provides a superior bookbinding education and offers professional-level diplomas to students who learn and produce the highest quality work.

AAB is located in the ski town of Telluride, Colorado, and occupies the historic Old Stone Building built in 1909. The building was remodeled in 2010 to provide a large, well-lit space for students to study and practice their skills. While studying, students have 24/7 access to the building.

american academy of bookbinding school in telluride colorado — Telluride, Colorado

What makes the AAB special?

The American Academy of Bookbinding is an internationally known bookbinding school. Here, students learn from some of the most accomplished and highly regarded bookbinders and conservators in the trade. It’s the only school of its kind in the United States that offers flexible, low-residency diploma programs in bookbinding.

The AAB prides itself on keeping class sizes small (12 or less) and can teach only 150 students each year. The school is therefore highly competitive and difficult to enter. Students must fill out an application that includes examples of their work and a statement about why they feel they deserve a seat in class. People seeking funding aid will need to fill out a statement of financial need as well.

I’ll be studying at the AAB this spring & summer

I’ve known about the AAB for many years, but never thought I’d be lucky enough to attend. After everything in my life changed in mid-2020, I decided to take a chance. I applied in February of 2022 and was awarded two classes for the spring and summer semesters. The first class will take place for one week in June. The second class covers two weeks in July.

I’ve always said you don’t need formal training to be a bookbinder, so why am I going to school?

The answer is easy: studying under the best bookbinders in the world will allow me to improve my skills so I can continue teaching others this amazing craft.

I need your help!

My goal is to serve this amazing community of bookbinding hobbyists and professionals, but I can’t do it without your help. While visiting Telluride, I intend to ask a bunch of your questions. Please take a moment to share your questions with me. I promise a written response to every single submission, no matter how small. The only requirement is it be related to bookbinding. Sorry, no questions about Telluride or skiing – ha!

I created a simple Google Form for this purpose: Telluride Bookbinding Community Questions.