When the Austin Book Arts Center opened its doors in Fall 2015, Austin joined New York, San Francisco, Minneapolis, and other world-class cities that have spaces dedicated to the arts and crafts of making books. Led by professionals in the field, ABAC is now established as the premiere location to study the arts of the book in Central Texas. We believe the Austin Book Arts Center has something fundamentally unique to offer and is worth preserving and supporting.
We know books are important to you. Books connect people and ideas. Books function. Books create memorable experiences. Books matter. Books have the power to change lives, and so do YOU!
Do you agree? If so...
- Make a donation in honor or in memory of someone who inspired you to love books. A parent? A teacher? A child?
- Have you taken a workshop? Make a donation in honor of your favorite ABAC instructor!
- If you haven't taken a workshop, register for one! We have virtual and in-person workshops. Beginners are welcome. Click here to view the current schedule.
About the Austin Book Arts Center
ABAC presents approximately 80 WORKSHOPS annually, for children and adults, in bookbinding, papermaking, printing, and various arts of the book. With the Covid-19 pandemic, ABAC quickly adapted and moved workshops online via Zoom. ABAC has now adopted a hybrid educational model, incorporating both in-person and virtual workshops, expanding our reach even farther.
Through the OPEN STUDIO program, ABAC provides access to the fully-equipped studio, under the guidance of expert stewards. Open studio times are scheduled throughout the week, enabling students and artists to use the traditional tools and equipment used in book production to create new work.
In addition, ABAC partners with organizations to provide community programming. For example, with ¡Hagamos Libros/Let’s Make Books!, ABAC partnered with AISD to distribute a bookmaking kit to each of AISD’s 120 elementary and middle school art teachers and to produce dual-language videos. These Spanish/English instructional videos are now available for FREE on the ABAC website, thanks to the Tocker Foundation, the Austin Optimist Club, and donors like you.
