Registration opens on March 28, 2026, at 8 am Pacific Time
FOBA 2026 Location
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon
Focus on Book Arts 2026 will once again be held at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. Almost all classrooms have air conditioning—a key concern for Oregon summers.
Housing will be in Arbor Park Apartments on the north side of campus. The apartment buildings have elevators and laundry facilities on each floor. None of the spaces are air conditioned. Each apartment includes four private bedrooms, two shared bathrooms, and a shared kitchen, living room, and hall closet. The kitchen includes a full-sized refrigerator/freezer, stove/oven, and microwave oven, in case you wish to bring/store food and beverages, or to make your own meals. However, no cooking and eating utensils are supplied; you should plan to bring your own if desired. These are non-smoking facilities.
If you would like to keep fit while you’re at FOBA, all attendees are allowed access to the WOU Campus Recreation Center by purchasing individual day passes for $10 per day. These are listed as “Day Use Pass—Community” here: https://wou.edu/campusrec/memberships/. This also grants you access to the pool and the climbing wall (if you are interested). You can navigate to hours and more details from the page above.
There is also the Monmouth Fitness Club located in downtown Monmouth (walking distance from campus). They have the full selection of gym equipment and they offer a discounted rate of $7 per person for groups that come to town. The website is https://www.monmouthfit.com/.
Campus Map
To give you a sense of the WOU campus, here are the buildings and areas that will be utilized during FOBA; click on the map to enlarge. For more comprehensive campus maps, visit the WOU website.
About Monmouth
The city of Monmouth was founded in 1856 and is 20 minutes west of Salem, the state capitol. The Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains are an hour’s drive from the city. Monmouth is a charming Willamette Valley town and home to Western Oregon University. The beautiful campus boasts the distinction of having one of the largest Christmas trees in the United States. The University was also established in 1856 and is currently the oldest public university in Oregon and on the West Coast. It has had several names throughout the years.
Less than three miles away is Monmouth’s sister city, Independence. This historic town is situated on the bank of the Willamette River and has wonderful galleries, restaurants, and wine bars. The convenient M.I. Trolley now connects the two cities. Together, Monmouth and Independence are home to a vibrant art scene, centered in the heart of the Willamette Valley’s beautiful rolling hills and wineries.
About Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is accessible by car and public transit, and Monmouth is a little over an hour by car from Portland International Airport (PDX). We’re confident that you—and your art and bookmaking supplies—can get to Monmouth without too much hassle. We can’t wait to see you in June 2026!
Western Oregon University, 345 Monmouth Avenue North, Monmouth, OR 97361
503-838-8000 | 1-877-877-1593