Codex Foundation Mission

The Codex Foundation exists to preserve and promote the hand-made book as a work of art in the broadest possible context and to bring to public recognition the artists, the craftsmanship, and the rich history of the civilization of the book.

Education

Through our programs, the biennial book fairs, symposiums, and our publications, we bring to the attention of the public and our book arts constituency the importance and value of book arts in transmitting cultural history. The art and craft of the book depends upon the knowledge of traditional forms, design, and hand-manufacture; as well as familiarity with the traditional art techniques, latest technologies, imaging sciences, and automated printing machines. The Codex Foundation believes that without the patronage of educated consumers and collectors these time-honored traditions will disappear, and with them the skills and disciplines that are necessary to ensure the survival of the hand-produced book.

Our goal is to raise the consciousness of private and institutional collectors, and the bar of excellence for artists. Through our Publications, BOOK ART OBJECT and the Code(X) pamphlet series the goal is to add significant scholarly contributions to the book arts canon.

Outreach

The Codex Foundation works in conjunction with other bibliophilic and book arts organizations in the Bay Area such as The San Francisco Center for the Book, The Book Club of California, and KALA Art Institute to support public programs and workshops. It has sponsored two student scholarships to attend the annual conference at the College Book Arts Association.

We have begun a new initiative in a cross border outreach. Along with the Centro Cultural Estacion Indianilla we are planning an exhibit and conference called CODEX MEXICO in Guadalajara in November 2011 and Mexico City in February 2012. The theme is “El Futuro de la Tradicion Artesanal del Libro,” the goal is to create a Pan-American cultural exchange around the art and the tradition of the hand-made book.

Constituency

The Codex constituency consists of professional and amateur artisans, educators, publishers, artists, writers, and scholars who demonstrate an interest in the art of the book. These include printers, paper makers and book-binders; printmakers, calligraphers, and book designers; type designers and type founders; manufacturers and vendors of presses and inks; librarians, archivists and conservators; bibliophiles and booksellers; academic and professional educators in the book arts and the history of the book; bibliophilic clubs and book arts organizations; in short, all scholars, artists, and students pursuing interests in the history and art of the book.

Board of Directors

• Peter Rutledge Koch
• Roberto G. Trujillo
• Susan K. Filter
• Carolee Campbell
• Earl M. Collier Jr.

Codex International Advisors

• London: Karen Bleitz and Sam Winston
• Paris/Mainz: Francoise Despalles and Johannes Strugalla
• Italy: Sandro Berra
• The Hague: Paul van Capelleveen
• Mexico: Fernando Ondarza
• Canada: Crispin Elsted

Our advisors provide invaluable assistance with the Codex Foundation's public relations abroad.