The San Francisco Center for the Book (SFCB) has a rich history and has evolved over the years to become a significant hub for the book arts on the West Coast.
In the mid nineties, San Francisco Center for the Book founders Mary Austin and Kathleen Burch recognized a growing need in the Bay Area for a facility specifically designed and equipped to support the teaching, appreciation, and creation of book arts. As the first center of its kind on the West Coast, SFCB was incorporated in March 1996 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and provided institutional support to The Handbookbinders of California and The Pacific Center for the Book Arts. Initially located at 300 De Haro Street, SFCB's first workshop schedule began in October 1996, offering courses in bookbinding, calligraphy, copier art, and letterpress.
Due to growing community support and an increasing number of workshops, SFCB moved to a larger space at 300 De Haro Street in 2002. This move allowed for a greater variety of workshops, public programs, exhibitions, and expanded space for classrooms and the print studio.
Two years after the move, SFCB introduced the Roadworks Steamroller Printing event, an annual fundraiser and open house showcasing printmakers, instructors, and local vendors. The event features the printing of three-foot by three-foot linoleum blocks hand-carved by participating artists.
In 2013, SFCB moved to a larger 7,000 square foot space at 375 Rhode Island Street, around the corner from the previous location. This move facilitated the expansion of studio equipment rental for bookbinding and letterpress printing. During this time, the Small Plates Imprint Program was developed (https://sfcb.org/imprint/smallplates), community studio use guidelines were established, and the Bookbinding and Letterpress Core workshop programs were introduced. SFCB currently offers hundreds of workshops annually, serving a wide range of students; instructors, both local and visiting, are highly regarded in their respective fields. In addition to individual workshops, SFCB hosts team-building events for private groups, actively collaborates with other local non-profit arts organizations on events, exhibitions, and educational programs.
As a non-profit arts organization in the Bay Area, SFCB is committed to making its programs accessible to a diverse audience. Through scholarships and tuition assistance programs, SFCB supports individuals who may face financial or cultural barriers to participating in workshops and educational activities. Over the course of its twenty-plus years, SFCB has grown into a gathering place for artists of all kinds and is a leader in the field of artists' books on the West Coast; throughout their history, SFCB’s focus on community and collaboration have contributed to the broader cultural and artistic ecosystem in San Francisco and beyond.