I’m really excited about this summers Historic Book Structures for Conservators, which will be held at The Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. July 1-31, 2015. This is a fantastic opportunity for serious students and professional conservators who want to eat, drink, live and breath historic book structures for an uninterrupted month. The icing on the cake— no tuition!
HISTORIC BOOK STRUCTURES FOR CONSERVATORS
This month long course is designed to refine basic bookbinding bench skills and to explore historic book structures in the context of the conservation of books as historic artifacts. It will be held at The Winterthur <http://www.winterthur.org>, a museum, garden and library consisting of 1,000 acres of rolling meadows, gardens and woodlands. The focus will be on books bound in-boards from the 16th through 19th centuries. Readings in bookbinding history, researching book structures and creating models of historic structures are the basis of the course. Class presentations, several written essays and an independent project are required. This course is intended for pre-program through mid-career participants who are passionate about book conservation. Class size is limited.
Application requirements include a personal statement on the relavence of this class to your work and career, a portfolio of bookbinding or book conservation treatments that exhibits attention to detail, and a recommendation from a professional in the conservation or preservation field. Students will receive a full scholarship for tuition and can live on the the grounds of the Winterthur for nominal charge. International applications are encouraged. Students will have to supply their own hand tools, pay travel expenses, food, and a materials fee. Students will have 24/7 access to the workshop and a graduate level conservation library.
This class is intended to develop bookbinding skills, work on a portfolio for graduate school or job applications, or even for mid-carrear conservators wishing to recharge their batteries.
HOW TO APPLY
I will need four things from you.
1) A one page personal statement on your interest in book history/ book conservation and how this class will help you in your career.
2) Your resume or cv.
3) A portfolio of bookbindings and/ or book conservation treatments that exhibits hand skills and attention to detail. This can be submitted in person if you live near NYC, online or you can send me the images. They need to be at a high enough resolution to evaluate craft skills. You should submit three books, with one or two overall shots and one or two details of each. Please include a one paragraph description of the piece or treatment: when you did it, how it was made, materials, techniques, and other information you would like to include.
4) A letter of recommendation from a professional in the conservation or preservation field, or a teacher who is familiar with your work.
After reviewing the above material, finalists will be interviewed by telephone or Skype. Please contact me if you have any questions.
The deadline for application is March 15, 2015.
Decisions regarding acceptance will be made by April 1, 2015.
The class will be held July 1-31, 2015 at the The Wintertour, Delaware, USA.
Peachey Conservation 
This class sounds absolutely amazing. I really wish I did not already have plans for this Summer. Please tell me this class will be offered again next year! Although I suppose it’s all for the best because I would probably have a heart attack….
I’m not sure what will happen next year. But I will keep a defibrillator on hand….
Were should we send the application?
They should be sent to me, my addresses are on the “contact” button above.
Hello! I’m hoping to have my application submitted in the next two days or so, but I was wondering, what sort of format would you prefer for the portfolio images? Would you like .jpgs, or would a more-compact pdf document be alright?
Thanks!
Either jpgs or a pdf are fine. Jeff