The Libraries’ Special Collections department is pleased to announce its third annual juried student book arts competition for spring 2025. The competition recognizes the creativity of Binghamton University students and promotes engagement with the book arts.
The 2024 winner of the purchase prize was Alexander Schambach (‘24, Pharmacy), for his work entitled “Composition, Vol. 1.” It was fashioned from a personal composition book with handwritten lyrics and notes compiled since his grade school years that was disassembled and reassembled in an accordion structure, the pages of which contain added photographic pigment prints and sewing. Two other entrants were awarded honorable mentions: Hayley G. Eggleston (‘24 BFA, Sculpture) for “ “Explorations of the Shoreline” and Rachel Knee (sophomore, Graphic Design major) for “Indecisive Attire.”
More information about the 2025 competition:
Purchase Prize: The recipient of the 2025 student book arts competition award will receive a purchase prize of $500 and their work will become the property of Binghamton University as part of the holdings of the Libraries’ Special Collections. The winning piece will be discoverable through the Libraries’ catalog, and will be used in teaching and research, in physical and virtual exhibitions and in publicity/outreach.
Eligibility: To be eligible, the undergraduate or graduate student must be enrolled in Binghamton University or be a recent graduate (summer ‘24, fall ‘24 or winter ‘25), and have completed the work in 2024 or 2025 as part of course requirements. Eligible works are those that are inspired by, engage with or challenge the book form and/or the idea of the book; including artists’ books, found art, and works that combine typography, graphic design, letterpress printing, printmaking, photography, digital techniques, bookbinding, or papermaking. The work must be unique or a limited edition multiple. Artists may submit no more than two entries for this competition (complete an entry form for each submission).
Submission must include:
- Original book arts piece
- Completed online entry form
Submission Deadline: All artwork must be delivered to Special Collections (Bartle Library, 2nd floor north), between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, April 22 through April 28, 2025. To drop off submissions at other times, contact speccoll@binghamton.edu. If the original artwork cannot be delivered by the deadline because it is in a student exhibition or has been turned in to a professor for grading, please submit the entry form and contact us to make other arrangements for the delivery of the artwork. The deadline to submit the online entry form and artwork is 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025. No late or incomplete submissions will be accepted, except as noted above.
Open House Exhibition: All submitted artwork and artist’s statements will be exhibited in Special Collections between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday, May 5, 2025. All are invited!
Return of artwork: All works will be returned by arrangement after May 5, 2025 except the prize winner, which will be retained by the University Libraries.
Copyright: Copyright to all entries remains with the artist.
Liability and Responsibility: Binghamton University Libraries’ Special Collections will take all reasonable precautions to ensure the protection of the works while in its care, but does not assume responsibility for damage or loss. Works will be exhibited in the Professor Bernard F. Huppé Reading Room in Special Collections (LN2320). Access to Special Collections is controlled and the reading room is monitored, but the works will not be in locked cases.
Submission of an entry assumes permission for Binghamton University Libraries to photograph and use or reproduce images for publicity and marketing for any exhibitions, events, websites, and/or digital repository. The competition winner agrees to relinquish the work for the purchase prize in the amount of $500 to become the property of Binghamton University. Entrants agree to all terms and conditions set forth by Binghamton University Libraries.
Contact speccoll@binghamton.edu with any questions.