The Sketchbook Project 2011

It’s like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks.

Sometimes you stumble across something/one that is just so darned inspirational and those creative, community minded folks over at the Art House Co-op are just that. In particular, The Sketchbook Project, their ‘open for participation’ project where anyone – from anywhere in the world – can be a part of the project.

We are blown away and more than a lil’ smitten with this concept. Literally, as it says on the tin, The Sketchbook Project: 2011 is like a concert tour, but with sketchbooks:

“The goal of the Project is to get blank sketchbooks into the artists’ hands and then completed sketchbooks into the world for viewers to enjoy.” Art House

How it works

Essentially, the plan is this – sign up, fill up your sketchbook, return it to HQ and then watch it go on tour across the USA! Every participant’s completed sketchbook returned by the cut-off date for entry (see end of post) will be included in a touring art exhibition curated by the Art House Co-op to be staged at galleries and museums across the USA. Thousands of sketchbooks will be viewed by thousands of people… a pretty rad prospect in itself and a great opportunity for emerging artists to get their name and work out there!

After the tour ends, every sketchbook will enter into the permanent collection of The Brooklyn Art Library, where they will be barcoded and available for the public to view. You can learn more about how it all works here but suffice to say the entire exhibition is interactive.

Participate

Simply head over to The Sketchbook Project and you can participate, you don’t even need to be an artist, illustrator or designer, literally anyone can get involved!

The process is easy: select a theme, choose your (Moleskine Cahier) sketchbook and cover colour and lastly, choose if you would like a digitized version of your completed sketchbook to be available to view in The Digital Library. Entry is $25 per sketchbook and an extra $20 for a digitized version.

Themes

The choice of themes is inspiring albeit beautifully bonkers: Things found on restaurant napkins, It’s raining dogs and cats, Great hopes and massive failures – and – If you lived here… to name but a few of the themes for 2011. Be warned, some themes may fill up quickly – so get in there quick before the one you want is full! Alternatively, you may prefer a random theme to be chosen for you.

Once you complete your order, you are officially a participant of The Sketchbook Project: 2011 and they’ll mail you a package which includes your barcoded sketchbook, official library card and some other important stuff you need to know, then start sketching, doodling, scribbling – pretty much whatever the heck you want to do with your sketchbook – as long as it abides by the rules (perhaps the most important being that your book must remain within the dimensions of 5.5 x 8.5 inches). Easy.

You have until 31st October 2010 to join and till 15th January 2011 to postmark your book. The tour starts in March 2011!!!

When you join the project, you will be emailed some online account details, simply login to your account and you can post teasers or sneak peeks as your sketchbook develops.

Sadly you won’t get your sketchbook back, it becomes part of the library collection but the guys will keep you posted on where it is in the world, who’s viewing it and general updates about its life – it will be well cared for that’s for sure.

This is the 5th year the project has happened and, as such, they’ve tried to make it as accessible as possible for overseas artists with a new and improved online tracking system. So this is where the digitized version will come in super handy as you can permanently keep tabs on it! Of course, you can always go visit it on tour (participating artists get a special limited edition library card) – another darn good excuse to haul ass to NYC and San Fran, hells yeah.

Check out some of the previous year’s entries…

Some Oh-So Important Dates… Don’t Forget!

Sign Up: 31st October, 2010
Postmark Book: 15th January, 2011
Tour Starts: March 2011

We’re in, we’re down… we’ll keep you posted as our sketchbook evolves. In the meantime, please show your support by participating in The Sketchbook Project: 2011 - Art House we salute you for making art accessible, engaging and interactive. Big thanks.