Projet MOBILIVRE-BOOKMOBILE Project
2001 – Ongoing
Headquarters based in Montreal, Canada and Philadelphia, USA
The BOOKMOBILE is an annual touring exhibition of artist books, zines and independent publications. The project travels across the United States and Canada drawing audiences in public spaces of various urban and rural communities. Each year, a new collection of 300 book works hits the road in a converted vintage Airstream trailer visiting community centers, schools, festivals, artist-run centres, libraries, book stores and a host of other types of venues through out North America. Visitors to the BOOKMOBILE can view an outstanding collection of book works by a diverse range of artists and writers in all stages of their careers.
Current Contact Information:
General info:info@mobilivre.org
To host a visit by the Bookmobile in your town:
tour@mobilivre.org
The annual call for submissions, tour dates, as well as info on how to donate to the project are available on our website: www.mobilivre.org
We have an extensive database with hundreds of names of past contributors, volunteers, host venues and media contacts that receive periodic emails from the project.
How the Project Started:
Projet MOBILIVRE-BOOKMOBILE Project is a grassroots media initiative, which is run by the BOOKMOBILE COLLECTIVE; a dedicated group of volunteers with headquarters based in Montreal , Canada and Philadelphia , USA . The annual tour takes us through North America with about 50 stops in small towns and big cites.
Artists, Curators, Collaborators, Conspirators:
The annual call for submissions goes far and wide. We receive work from new exhibitors every year. Many people will submit year after year and we always get new stuff from strangers who hear about the project from friends, visit us on tour or see an amazing article about the project.
Shows, Events, Happenings:Our annual tour is listed on the Internet:
http://www.mobilivre.org/en/tour.html
Our annual call for submissions is February 1 st , however, we will not be touring in 2006 and will have no 2006 collection.
Most of the year round planning happens in Montréal and Philadelphia and so that's where most volunteers are needed. The best way to get involved as a volunteer with the project is to contact us: info@mobilivre.org an let us know where you live, what in what capacity you can contribute to the project and we aim to reach a broad audience. Our outreach targets both groups who have little to no exposure to such work and audiences who remain committed to the growth and dissemination of independently produced printed matter (artists, writers, students). Most importantly, we want to meet member's new communities during our visit! We encourage hosts to organize talks and workshops, which feature the work of local artists, filmmakers, writers, and activists in your community. In the past, these types of local events have been excellent networking opportunities, which generate interest and exposure both for the BOOKMOBILE visit and for local talent.How To Get Involved:
Making its debut tour in 2001, the BOOKMOBILE is now in it's 5 th year of operation. Our annual tours now run from April-July and September–November. We break during the hottest summer months because the trailer is an oven. There is a Call for Submissions each February and a jury that chooses a new collection of book works each year. Volunteers work all year round on the “behind the scenes” administrative things including fundraising, tour booking, promotion, etc…
Other:
FUNDRAISING:
The project is primarily financed through personal and
in-kind donations by visitors, benefit events and
sales of merchandise as well as contributions by
hosting venues. In the past the project has also received grants including Inter-Arts, Canada Council from the Conseil des Arts et des Letters de Quebec.
Host venues are asked to make a suggested donation
based on their economic situation. All contributions go towards tour costs and operational funding.
COLLECTIVE:
Members of the COLLECTIVE are volunteers who work together, rotating responsibilities throughout the year to plan and execute the tour. We have bi-annual “retreat” meetings to plan the tour route and review our vision. The annual tour is headed by three tour guides at a time who travel with the exhibition and give workshops and artist' talks.
WORKSHOPS:
Visitors to the projet MOBILIVRE-BOOKMOBILE project are often excited to make books and zines after seeing the exhibit. Our hands-on workshops with collaborating host venues facilitate skill sharing, encourage discussion, and empower people to create their own stories as book works. Workshops are guided activities, lead by BOOKMOBILE Tour Guides, providing independent learning experiences in book arts and self-publishing for diverse audiences. Workshops may include an artist talk, and instructional bookbinding such as sewn on tape or buttonhole binding, zine making or recycled diary. All materials are provided by the project.
Vehicle
Trailer
