Sat. April 11, 2026
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: McGoldrick Center for Career and Student Success | 35 Bedford St (2nd Floor), Portland, ME
About:
The 2026 Annual Book Arts Bazaar, a vibrant community celebration dedicated to the fine craft of book arts, took place this Spring on the University of Southern Maine Portland campus. This unique gathering showcases the talents of regional book artists, papermakers, bookbinders, printmakers, educators, and writers, all coming together to share their passion for contemporary book arts.
Proudly presented by the Kate Cheney Chappell ‘83 Center for Book Arts, this event invites the public to connect with artists and learn about the techniques that keep these cherished traditions alive.
2026 Vendors
Images from the 2026 Book Arts Bazaar hosted at the University of Southern Maine.
2026 Workshop Information
This year we hosted The Portland Dirt as our workshop hosts for the duration of the event. Founded on the desire to see the written word and printed image circulate in Portland’s burgeoning poetic community, The Portland Dirt editorial team is excited to share in the process of collaborative composition and homespun publication.
A note from The Portland Dirt: “We will warm up with a writing prompt at 11am, loose and approachable and open to interpretation. The Portland Dirt runs a monthly prompt-base writing event in collaboration with the Portland Poets Society and we will be offering a similar experience to get folks started on their own personal handmade zines.
As we ramp up into the afternoon, the workshop will shift into physical making. We invite folks to join us in constructing their own “zines” with the materials we’ll have provided and to discover how to reproduce it most easily on one’s own. We will go over plate planning, sequential composition, boarding and wrangling chaos onto the page. There will be an array of collage materials and ink-stamps to express oneself. Folks will leave with an art object they can copy and distribute wherever and whenever. Let’s get dirty!”
Getting to the Book Arts Bazaar
The METRO Husky Bus and the METRO #4 pickup/drop-off directly in front of the McGoldrick Center for Career and Student Services. An updated bus schedule can be found on the METRO website and bus fair is $2 each way.
Additionally, a half-off parking discount code BAZHALF is available to Book Arts Bazaar attendees who are interested in parking in our USM Portland Garage One, located directly across the street from the McGoldrick Center for Career and Student Success. In our digital parking interface, navigate to April 11 and find the Book Arts Bazaar event tab. From there enter your auto information and pay accordingly. Street parking is free, although limited.
Visitor Information
Visitors have the opportunity to explore a diverse array of handmade books, artisan paper products, and unique prints, making it the perfect place to find thoughtful gifts, spark creativity, and engage in meaningful conversations about the rich traditions and innovations within the field. Whether you are a seasoned artist, an aspiring creator, there’s something for everyone at the Bazaar.
Visit the Husky Brew downstairs for an array of specialty café selections or the Dining Hall for a selection of food items and snacks.
This event is FREE and open the public. Open to visitors of all ages!
For more information about KCC ’83 Center for Book Arts, please contact:
Annie Lee-Zimerle, Program Coordinator
(207) 228-8014 or aemin.leezimerle@maine.edu
usm.maine.edu/bookarts
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