cbl-Newsletter 2/2026

Yes, you read that correctly. This year, the General Assembly of our centro del bel libro ascona will already take place at the End of March, on 28th March 2026.

This year, Bubu AG in Mönchaltorf has kindly agreed to host the event.

Not only will we have the opportunity to hold the meeting on their premises, but we will also have the chance to take a look at their production.
Detailed information about the agenda of the General Assembly, together with all relevant documents, have been sent by post in due time, as usual.
Please make a note of this date in your calendar. We look forward to welcoming many of you.

Below you will also find a preview of some courses scheduled for March, April and May 2026. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us:

No. 04

Course location Ascona

Have you always dreamed of designing and binding your own book? In three and a half days, from Monday to Thursday, you will learn the basics of bookbinding and fulfil your dream of creating your own book from start to finish. From selecting the paper to folding the pages to binding the book cover.

Instructor:

Matthias Grimm

Date:

From Monday, 16th March until Thursday, 19th March 2026

Duration:

3,5 days, Thursday until 12:00

Course location:

centro del bel libro ascona, Via Collegio 17, CH-6612 Ascona

Language:

German

Costs:

CHF 800.-

Material costs:

Special material depending on use

Participants:

Beginners, no previous experience required

Registration:

No. 05

Course location Ascona

A course on the subject of the artist book, based on text fragments by the author Yoko Tawada.
«Fry as you like» - this could be the translation of the name of the traditional Japanese dish ‹Okonomiyaki›, for which Yoko Tawada has written a bilingual text:
«The Japanese name for squid is ika, which also means estrangement».
Based on the abstracted motif of the special Japanese pancake, we will create simple drawings and drip paintings, arrange Tawada's 15 poetic text fragments and conceptualize a unique artist book in content and form. The aim is to design a book coherently from the inside out in one week and bind it using different types of paper.
In addition, we plan to have dinner together with home-made okonomiyaki.
Previous knowledge of design and bookbinding is helpful, but not essential.

Instructor:

Veronika Schäpers

Date:

From Monday, 30th March until Friday, 3rd April 2026

Duration:

5 days, Friday until 12:00

Course location:

centro del bel libro ascona, Via Collegio 17, CH-6612 Ascona

Language:

German and English

Costs:

CHF 1'150.-

Material costs:

Special material depending on use

Participants:

Beginners, previous experience in design and bookbinding is an advantage

Registration:

No. 06

Course location Zurich

Practical and elegant – in this course, you will create a customised pencil case with a magnetic closure or press stud, ideal for your desk or when you are on the go.
The structure of the pencil case will be taught step by step. A selection of high-quality materials is available for the cover and lining, which can be combined as desired.
The course offers an insight into traditional craft techniques and is aimed at anyone who enjoys working precisely with paper and bookbinding materials – no previous knowledge is required.

Instructor:

Andrea Kohler, Doris Feldmann

Date:

Friday, 10th April and Saturday, 11th April 2026

Duration:

2 days: Friday, 13:00 - 19:00 / Saturday, 09:00 - 16:00

Course location:

Schule für Gestaltung, Buchbindewerkstatt, Ausstellungsstrasse 104, CH-8005 Zurich

Language:

German

Costs:

CHF 750.-

Material costs:

Special material depending on use

Participants:

Beginners, no previous experience required

Registration:

No. 08

Course location Ascona

This workshop will present a new method for treating wood veneer to facilitate its usage as a covering material. It will involve producing a decoratively open sewn binding, with a flexible leather spine and boards covered in the treated wood veneer. The binding will additionally include handmade silk thread headbands, some simple spine tooling and acrylic edge colouring - to complete an overall aesthetically pleasing, and eye-catching appearance.

Instructor:

Roger Green

Date:

Monday, 4th May and Tuesday, 5th May 2026

Duration:

2 days

Course location:

centro del bel libro ascona, Via Collegio 17, CH-6612 Ascona

Language:

German and English

Costs:

CHF 460.-

Material costs:

Special material depending on use

Participants:

Basic knowledge in bookbinding required

Registration:

No. 09

Course location Ascona

This workshop will present a new method for inlaying leather, which facilitates a relatively stress free execution of potentially complex designs. It will cover the technical foundations of this technique, the variations of which will at first be practiced by making several A6 leather covered sample cards. To further deepen the understanding and experience with this method, the participants will make a small full leather binding with their own inlay designs. Previous experience, although helpful, is not a prerequisite.

Instructor:

Roger Green

Date:

From Wednesday, 6th May until Friday, 8th May 2026

Duration:

3 days

Course location:

centro del bel libro ascona, Via Collegio 17, CH-6612 Ascona

Language:

German and English

Costs:

CHF 690.-

Material costs:

Special material depending on use

Participants:

Previous experience, although helpful, is not a prerequisite

Registration:

Editing: Katharina Meier
Translation: Beatrice Corti

Administration:
centro del bel libro ascona
Viale St. Franscini 30
CH-6500 Bellinzona – Switzerland

School:
centro del bel libro ascona
Via Collegio 17
CH-6612 Ascona – Switzerland

www.cbl-ascona.ch
Phone: +41 (0) 91 825 11 62
info@cbl-ascona.ch

Advance notice of the General Assembly

Creating a book from start to finish

Course location Ascona

Okonomiyaki as a book

Course location Ascona

Pencil case and pencil box with closure

Course location Zurich

Wood veneer open binding

Course location Ascona

Leather Inlays

Course location Ascona