CXD Nicholas Hadgraft Memorial Scholarship

Conservation by Design Limited (CXD) is calling conservators and bookbinders to apply for the 10th Annual Nicholas Hadgraft Memorial Scholarship.

The prestigious award covers the cost of attending the world renowned Montefiascone Book Conservation Summer School, a unique bookbinding course held each year in the medieval hill-top town of Montefiascone, situated next to the picturesque Lago di Bolsena in the heart of Lazio, Italy. 

The scholarship offers £1,500 towards course fees and travel, and provides a unique opportunity for students, conservators and bookbinders to study with leading conservation professionals. Running throughout the month of August, each week of the summer school features a different course on specialised subjects related to historic bookbindings, their materials, and conservation.

This year the programme is, 28th July - 1st August, Re-creating the Medieval Palette with Cheryl Porter; 4th- 8th August, Two Semi-limp Parchment Binding styles with Anne Hillam; 11th- 15th August, 12th century English Limp Tawed Skin Binding with Jim Bloxam and Shaun Thompson. I'll be teaching the final week of this year's programme with my wonderful colleague Gaia Petrella, 18th- 22nd August, An Embroidered Turkish Binding.

Our week will be based on a small 18th century Turkish binding from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin- manuscript T453. It features an unusual leather cover embroidered with metallic threads, and boards attached using the two-piece technique.

I really can't emphasise enough just how incredible and formative the Montefiascone Conservation Project can be. The spectacular setting of the Barbarigo Seminary Library just adds to the magic, so why not apply for the scholarship? The closing date for applications is Friday 18th of April.

For more information about course tutors, fees and registration for the Montefiascone Project see http://monteproject.co.uk/en/study-programme

For more information on the CXD scholarship, click here

For the 2014 CXD Nicholas Hadgraft Scholarship application form click here