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Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm Thursday 10am - 5pm Friday 10am - 5:30pm Saturday 10am - 5:30pm Sunday 10am - 5:30pm

San Francisco Center for the Book

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San Francisco Center for the Book

Workshops in Letterpress Printing, Bookbinding, Book Arts & Crafts :: Art Exhibitions :: Open Studios & Studio Rentals :: Corporate Team Building :: Events
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THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ON THE WEST COAST

The San Francisco Center for the Book was co-founded by Mary Austin and Kathleen Burch, who recognized a growing need in San Francisco, the Bay Area and on the West Coast for a facility specifically designed and equipped to support the appreciation, teaching and creation of book arts. The first center of its kind on the West Coast, San Francisco Center for

the Arts was incorporated in March of 1996 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. THE GRAND OPENING

The grand opening celebration on July 30, 1996, of the first location of San Francisco Center for the Book, on DeHaro Street between 16th and 17th Streets, along an old railroad line in the Potrero Hill District, attracted an overflow crowd of more than 400 people. That first season, consisted of 64 students and a dozen classes. NORTHWARD BOUND

By 2002, with the renaissance of book arts picking up steam, San Francisco Center for the Book moved to the north end of the same building, to larger accomodations that included a view of an old railcar nextdoor, to house an ever growing collection of bookbinding and letterpress equipment, tools and type. To meet public demand, this move also provided space for more and larger workshops. ACROSS THE TRACKS

In early 2013, the San Francisco Center for the Book moved to a 7,000 square foot space just around the corner and across what used to be railroad tracks, to the Rhode Island Street side of the same block, in what is now known as the Do.Re.Mi (DOgpatch-PotREro-Hill-MIssion) Design and Arts District, surrounded on all sides by galleries, art studios and other arts organizationsin a hub of art and design studios, galleries and technology firms. The move to the larger space space allowed San Francisco Center for the Book to expand to include an exhibition gallery sitting aside the print studio, a platemaking lab, a separate bindery, arts and crafts room, and administrative offices. THE PRESENT

Currently, San Francisco Center for the Book offers over 400 workshops and and serves thousands of students of all ages each year. In addition to our workshops, San Francisco Center for the Book also presents exhibitions and events, hosts special visits and hands-on demonstrations, and much more. Explore this website to learn about all the things San Francisco Center for the Book has to offer and come for a visit. We are looking forward to seeing you here.

06/10/2026

We’re having a blast watching these books come to life!

We can’t wait for you to see them at our Publication Party! RSVP at sfcb.org

06/09/2026

Turn your volume up for some paper ASMR from 's Kaleidocycle workshop in May.

06/05/2026

Block printing is one of the first printmaking techniques, and involves carving and applying ink to a surface to print on paper or fabric. Reduction block printing is the process of creating a multiple color print using just one block of wood, linoleum, or rubber. It is a wonderful way to create unique, handmade designs – from holiday cards to fine art prints.

Join for this two-day workshop,introducing participants to handprinting techniques including tools and waterbased printing inks; paper prep, print registration systems, and how to carve a multiple color image using one rubber block to create a series of prints on kozo paper. Participants will walk away with the skills to create dynamic prints anywhere.

All levels welcome.

Need financial aid? Apply for SFCB's Windgate Scholarship Fund on the workshop info page: https://www.sfcb.org/workshops/detail?coursestormCourseId=60d29dce295d11f185ff0affe5650d13

06/02/2026

Mark your calendars! Join us for our 2026 Small Plates Publication Party on Thursday, June 18.

Since SFCB's Small Plates program launched in 2008, more than 40 editions have been created. This year, SFCB is excited to be working with artists Quinn Keck, Grendl Lofkvist, and Rachel Phillips on their editions.

Celebrate the launch of this year's Small Plates editions, purchase your copies in the Biblioshop, and hear more about the artists' studio processes at our launch party on June 18th!

RSVP online at https://www.sfcb.org/calendar/small-plates-publication-party-2026?blm_aid=591873

05/29/2026

🚨Attention SFCB friends!🚨 We will be closed on Wednesday, June 3rd through Friday, June 5th for construction. Rentals are closed for the entire week and classes will resume on Saturday, June 6th.

Thanks for your understanding!

05/28/2026

Small Plates Artist Highlight: Rachel Phillips

Rounding us off is our third Small Plates Artist ! Rachel is a visual artist, writer, book artist, educator and arts administrator based in Pacifica, CA. Her work often incorporates historical and vernacular materials, including many found photographs. Growing up in the Bay Area, the impact of technology on ecology and culture, as seen through a feminist lens, is often a theme in her work.

See more of Rachel's work at: https://treadwellpress.com/

About Small Plates: Each year SFCB invites artists to produce an artist book edition of a specific size (4 inches x 4 inches) in a limited edition of 100. SFCB provides space, equipment, technical support, and a materials budget to Small Plates artists to help produce their edition.

05/22/2026

Buckle up for our June From the Bench guests: ! Current Editions is the collaborative publishing practice of Bay Area artists Jessalyn Aaland and Paul Morgan, formed in 2017. They publish projects about micro histories, niche artifacts, and public discourse, ranging from protests on San Francisco’s Market Street to New England’s unique contribution to target sports.

Their work has been exhibited at SFMOMA, Gallery 16, Women’s Studio Workshop, FOG Art Fair, and art book fairs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, and Boston. Current Editions publications are stocked at Printed Matter, the ICA London Bookshop, McNally Jackson, Skylight Books, and Good Press, and distributed worldwide through Public Knowledge.

You can see more of their work at currenteditions.biz.

Register at sfcb.org/calendar/fromthebenchofcurrenteditions

05/21/2026

Small Plates Artist Highlight: Quinn Keck

We are happy to introduce our next Small Plates Artist .r.keck! Quinn is a multidisciplinary artist who investigates concepts in sociology, physics, technology and philosophy. Working across printmaking, artists books, creative coding, and installation, their work discusses memory, perception and grief through questioning the manifestation of systems. They look beyond the arithmetic to dissect the axioms that define what is rational, logical and natural.

See more of their work at: https://www.quinnkeck.com/

About Small Plates: Each year SFCB invites artists to produce an artist book edition of a specific size (4 inches x 4 inches) in a limited edition of 100. SFCB provides space, equipment, technical support, and a materials budget to Small Plates artists to help produce their edition of books.

05/19/2026

Miracles do happen! There's one seat left in this Saturday's Intro to Digital Risograph class! Don't miss your chance to register for this popular workshop and visit https://www.sfcb.org/workshops/detail?coursestormCourseId=5f09d9cf295d11f185ff0affe5650d13 to claim your spot.

This workshop focuses on the digital approach to printing with a Risograph. The Introduction to Analog Risograph Printing workshop focuses on printing from paper substrates laid on the glass (like a photocopier). Either class will suffice as the prerequisite for the Risograph Certification workshop, though students are welcome to take both. Successful completion of the certification allows students to rent time on SFCB's Risograph.

05/15/2026

Small Plates Artist Highlight: Grendl Löfkvist

Our first Small Plates Artist Highlight welcomes a familiar face: ! Grendl is the Director of Type West, Letterform Archive’s yearlong program in type design. She is also an instructor at SFCB, CCSF, and Sierra College, and has taught workshops at Stanford University, Wells College, and Pixar. Grendl has ink in her veins; she loves to print!

See more of her work at: https://clovenhoofpress.com/?blm_aid=591873

About Small Plates: Each year SFCB invites artists to produce an artist book edition of a specific size (4 inches x 4 inches) in a limited edition of 100. SFCB provides space, equipment, technical support, and a materials budget to Small Plates artists to help produce their edition of books.

Address

375 Rhode Island Street (Between 16th And 17th Streets)
San Francisco, CA
94103

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 5:30pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5:30pm
Saturday	10am - 5:30pm
Sunday	10am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+14155650545

Website

http://sfcb.org/

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