The Colleen Cavin Fellowship and the Patty Grass Internship Program
The deadline for applications has passed. Thank you to everyone who applied.
FOBA has an ongoing commitment to support a diverse range of book artists and to enhance the depth, breadth, and quality of the book arts.
Fellowship Program
The fellowship program was created in honor of Colleen Cavin. Colleen was a fine book artist and scribe, a Fellow of the Society of Scribes & Illuminators, a teacher for more than 30 years, and a longtime member of the FOBA Conference planning team. She was a talented yet modest artist, giving generously her wisdom, humor, and kindness.
We continue to offer two fellowships to aid book artists who are interested in supporting the conference and the book arts community.
Fellows will work alongside the Board, the Instructors, and the Volunteers to create an exciting event for our book arts community. Work will include the setup and take-down of the physical event. It is important to engage with staff and participants as Fellows help where needed. The opportunity is ideal for applicants interested in developing skills and relationships on campus as they take workshops, network with industry professionals, and interact with like-minded artists from all over the country.
In exchange, they will receive on-site lodging, meals, up to $500 travel assistance, and three days of class tuition. Materials fees are the Fellows’ responsibility.
Internship Program
The internship program was created in honor of Patty Grass. Patty was instrumental in introducing hundreds of people to the idea of books as an art form. In 1988, she convened the first meetings of the Oregon Book Arts Guild. The guild sponsored the Focus Conference, laying the foundation for what later became Focus on Book Arts.
For the first time, we will award two internships to book artists who would benefit from assisting an instructor in their workshop. Duties will include assisting in class for up to three days and setting up and taking down the class. Interns and Instructors will work together to determine exact assignments. While we will strive to pair Interns with Instructors and workshops in their areas of interest, Interns may assist in classes with unfamiliar materials or methods. An openness to media investigation and learning new processes is ideal for taking advantage of this program’s many benefits.
Interns will earn on-site lodging, meals, up to $500 travel assistance, one day of class tuition, and early registration. Materials fees are the Intern’s responsibility.
Responsibilities and Benefits
Recipients will be expected to arrive in Monmouth, Oregon, on June 22, 2026, then stay through the five-day conference, leaving on June 29.
Selection will be based on the applicant’s commitment to book arts, proven ability to collaborate, and enthusiasm for contributing to the FOBA community. The application review committee values applicants who demonstrate a willingness to learn and share their experiences with others. We encourage artists of all backgrounds and levels of experience to apply.
Every voice adds something new to the story and new to our creative community. We are committed to increasing the diversity of voices we hear. FOBA seeks to increase access and artistic opportunities for students who have historically been underrepresented in the book arts and at our conference in particular. At least one of the four positions will be awarded to an artist from a traditionally underrepresented group. This includes but is not limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ, and male book artists.
You can meet the 2026 Fellows and Interns here.