It is indeed extraordinary to celebrate at the same time Quebec City’s 400th anniversary and an exhibition of magnificent design bindings. Sixty-six bookbinders from France, Italy, Japan, the United States and Canada celebrated form and colour with amazing craftsmanship as all visitors could attest at the Bibliothèque de l’Assemblée nationale du Québec, from June 24 to September 29, 2008.

Read more ( in French )...      Exhibition Gallery

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In celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Château Ramezay, the Museum is teaming up with the organizers of UNESCO “Montreal: World Book Capital” and the international association “Les Amis de la Reliure d’Art”, to bring you an intimate look at the evolution of the artwork that binds the pages of history.

This exhibit is for book lovers of all ages that will revel at the chance to experience the artwork of these rare intricately decorated artefacts. Furthermore, this collection illustrates that books are not just messengers of ideas but are in themselves pieces of art that capture the evolution of communication, from Antiquity to the new electronic era.

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An exhibition of rare Islamic manuscripts is presently on display in the McLennan Library Lobby from September to November 30, 2005. The selection includes bound Arabic, Persian and Turkish manuscripts, some of which reveal the finest examples of book illustration and illumination. In addition, the exhibition features early fragments of the Qur'an on parchment, wooden writing tablets, a miniature scroll, lacquer pen boxes, and beautiful calligraphic pieces.

International design binding exhibition on a set book, Le livre des origines, published by ARA-Canada. Two venues : Bibliothèque Gabrielle-Roy, Quebec City, Canada, in 2005, followed by the Museum national d'histoire naturelle, Paris, France, in 2006.

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Under the name Miroirs et reflets, bookbinders were invited by ARA-Canada to create design bindings reflecting their actual inspiration, be it a traditional binding or an artist book. Visitors of the Salon international du livre de Québec (Quebec Book Fair) could admire their work in the entrance hall from April 24 to 28, 2002.

Exhibition Gallery

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In hommage to urban life, a two-story high book was created to celebrate the New Millenium!

Every two years or so, since the first one in Monaco in 1988, a FIRA is organized by one or the other national ARA. FIRA stands for Forum International de la Reliure d’Art. Hundreds of bookbinders, artists, bibliophiles, librarians, collectors and specialists from twenty countries gathered in Montreal for the Ve FIRA in 1996, the first one to be held in Canada.