Creatives in Publishing: Binding a Path to Being Published

Camden Art Centre

In an ever-shifting landscape, how does one work towards being published or self-publishing as
well as collaborative publishing ventures?

Publishing is a timeless method to share one’s art practice with local and broader internal audiences. In an ever-shifting landscape, how does one work towards being published or self-publishing as well as collaborative publishing ventures? This course aims to demystify the artist publishing world by addressing key topics such as finances and sharing guidance based on first-hand experience from Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck about being published by international imprints and running an artist imprint for a decade.This course is suitable for beginner to established artists or writers interested in publishing their work or learning about self-publishing, particularly for those with a visual arts practice, and welcomes those from other art practices, including writing. Participants will learn how to prepare their practice and body of work towards publication and gain skills, confidence and an appreciation for the patience and playfulness this process requires.Refunds or exchanges are available only if an event is cancelled or rescheduled. If this occurs, check the Camden Art Centre event webpage for details, and we will email you any changes. Camden Art Centre allows a 24-hour cooling-off period for refunds and will honour all bookings for new event dates if rescheduled.

Agenda

- Welcome and touching briefly on the history and context of artist publishing, setting a framework for the course
- Introduction about Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck's practice.
- Introduction to the course and its aim - including an overview of what participants will learn in the following modules.
- The group introduces themselves and their aims in a few sentences (Prompt: Share your practice, your goals for the course, and your current thoughts on publishing).

Thursday 1 May: Module One

Part A - How to get published by an (established or indie) publisher?
- How to approach galleries, publishers, and institutions.
- Understanding what publishers look for in submissions.
- Contracts and legal considerations.
Part B - How to make yourself ‘publish-ready’
- How do you refine your pitch and portfolio for submission?

Thursday 8 May: Module Two

Part A - Keys to self-publishing include planning, financing, a list of printers, and other valuable
tips.
Planning: Understanding the different types of publications (e.g., zines, art books).
Financing: Crowdfunding, self-funding, or working with collaborators to raise money.
Printers: Selection, understanding paper types, and print runs.
Marketing: How to market a self-published book (not in-depth due to time constraints).
Part B - Including a 45-minute bookbinding session at the end for a relaxed, hands-on approach

Thursday 15 May: Module III

Artists in publishing, looking and discussing examples, including examples, come from a range of
different publishing experiences—both from established publishers and self-published works.
- Final Q&A — wrap up with a reflective session. Prompts: What are your next steps after the
course? How do you envision applying what you learned in your practice?