The new Studio 5 modules and courses in Creative Studies in Contemporary Bookbinding and Book Arts offer a unique combination of specialisms in traditional, contemporary and experimental bookbinding and book arts practises and skills. With a flexible delivery programme throughout the year, modular learning and a teacher to student ratio that affords time and consideration so enabling the individual student to maximise their learning experience.
Over the last 17 or so years not only UK residents, but many visitors, students and working artisans from all parts of the world have been willing to travel to London to study both part and full-time at Studio 5. Whilst it would be easy to increase numbers, the ethos of Studio 5 has always been quality not quantity. Unlike many courses that concentrate on conceptualisation and theorems to bookbinding and book arts or short, Studio 5 provides practical experience in making and doing.
With an ever increasing trend for people to have more than one career in their working life, and with the modular nature of the courses, Studio 5 is very well placed to offer all suitable students an exciting, stimulating and challenging learning opportunity in an area of the arts where there is growing awareness, varied progression routes and work opportunities.
Aims of the Studio 5 course, Creative Studies in Contemporary Bookbinding and Book Arts
The scheme of study has been designed to enable suitable students of any age to study the Art and Craft of Bookbinding and Book Arts with the emphasis being on practical projects and modules, balanced with theoretical understanding that offers a practical gateway in bookbinding and book arts.
It is anticipated that students will acquire and develop skills that will enable them to become artisans, designers and artists who understand the importance of good working practices as a firm and practical foundation for contemporary and progressive work.
The intention of the Studio 5 course, Creative Studies in Contemporary Bookbinding and Book Arts is to:
provide a unique education in terms of the diversity of the mixture of art, craft and making
stimulate creativity in terms of traditional, contemporary and progressive/experimental working practices
provide artisanal training in bookbinding and book arts that can be used specifically for bookbinding and book arts or adapted for further use in other areas e.g. applied arts, graphic arts, installation work, restoration, private press etc
develop a student’s sense of professionalism
develop students’ critical abilities and awareness and an ability for self expression and collaborative works through projects
develop the understanding and application of relevant health and safety in the studio/workshop environment
develop the student’s ability to identify and solve technical and design problems and to become self motivated in working practices and out-put
provide knowledge, environment and facilities that enable students to work with hand tools, workshop and studio equipment safely and competently
provide a sound background in general and working knowledge with particular regard to bookbinding, book arts and associated practices
The Future
Since the inception of the earliest hand written book and increased availability due to inventions such as paper and printing, there has rarely been a time that the book has been out of the public domain.
Recently, with the rise and eventual stagnation of the ebook and similar reading platforms, the contemporary book has undergone something of a revolution. The genre of the book as a creative vehicle is growing in importance and understanding around the world.
With the wonderful advances in technical communications and affordable equipment such as printers and graphic packages for computers along side the traditional processes, the scope for either the self-employed bookbinder, book artist or employed artisan, in an institution, company or college/university, to engage with the book has never been more varied, exciting and rewarding.
Mark Cockram.
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