Founded in 1974, Center for Book Arts is the first institution in the United States dedicated solely to the book arts. For more than fifty years, we have been a welcoming and inspiring space for those who believe that the book arts carry enduring value — that the weight of a page, the impression of a press, and the care of printers, bookbinders, and book artists, are worthy of both careful attention and joyful celebration.
From preserving traditional practices to fostering contemporary innovation in the field, CBA occupies a singular place in the art world: a medium-focused, community-driven space that is also a leader in the field. We are an active studio filled with constant learning and creativity, a gallery presenting world-class exhibitions, a library with an extensive artists’ book collection, and a gathering place for bibliophiles— all in service of the belief that the book, in its many forms, remains one of humanity’s most profound and transformative mediums of communication and expression.
Our annual Benefit Dinner is an evening in the company of those who share this conviction. Your presence and support sustain our programs, our community, and a tradition of innovation that stretches from 1974 to the present day.
Tickets
Tickets and tables are available at the following levels. Each one carries a name drawn from the letterpress tradition — because every part of the press, however small, is essential to the whole.
Quoin
The quoin is the small but indispensable key that locks the type in place — a fitting name for the individual patron whose commitment holds our work together.
$800 – Admission for one person to the exclusive 6pm cocktail reception with honorees, seated dinner and ceremony at 7pm with priority seating, name listed in printed event program and event signage, and a letterpress printed keepsake.
Chase
The chase is the frame that holds every element of a composition in perfect relation to one another. It makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
$1,550 – Admission for two to the exclusive 6pm cocktail reception with honorees, followed by the seated dinner and ceremony at 7pm, both names will be listed in the printed event program, on event signage, and on the event’s website. Includes a letterpress keepsake at both seats.
Platen
The platen is the surface that meets the type — the moment of contact where intention becomes impression. A Platen table represents a deep and lasting commitment to the book arts.
$6,000 – Tickets for 8 people to attend the exclusive 6pm cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner and ceremony at 7pm. Guests of in this group will receive priority seating together at a premium table, a special letterpress printed keepsake will be waiting at each seat, and guests names will be listed in printed program. The host of this group may opt to include a name or logo on event signage and a featured listing on this event website and will receive a special acknowledgment from the podium.
Forme
In the letterpress tradition, the forme is the complete assembly — every piece of type locked, composed, and ready for printing. To host a Forme table is to place yourself at the very heart of what we do.
$10,000 – A private premium table for 10, including a 6pm cocktail reception with a toast to the table host, premium priority seating the seated dinner and ceremony at 7pm. Guests of this table will be listed in printed program. Dedicated name or logo on event signage and featured listing on event website. Letterpress keepsake at each seat. This table will receive a special acknowledgment from the podium and exclusive meet & greet with the honoree and featured artist.
About the Venue
This year’s benefit dinner will take place at BLACKBARN, a destination unlike any other in Manhattan. Situated on East 26th Street at the north end of Madison Square Park, BLACKBARN is a farm-to-table restaurant, bar, and private event space led by Chef and Owner John Doherty — formerly the executive chef of the Waldorf Astoria for twenty-three years. Inspired by the warmth of a country barn and the energy of New York City, the restaurant brings a refined yet convivial spirit to the heart of NoMad.
Center for Book Arts’ guests will dine in the Loft, BLACKBARN’s premier private space and a room that earns its distinction. Perched on the mezzanine level overlooking the rafters of the main dining room below, the Loft pairs warm natural wood walls adorned with antique hand tools and raw concrete columns for a richly textured, rustic ambiance that feels at once handcrafted and refined—much like the work CBA has championed for decades. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the space as well-appointed as it is atmospheric. Above the hum of the restaurant, guests enjoy a sense of occasion and remove that is perfect for an evening of conversation, community, and celebration.
BLACKBARN’s culinary team frequents the Union Square Greenmarket and works closely with trusted farmers, artisans, and ranchers throughout the tristate area, bringing a commitment to craft and seasonality to every dish. It is a fitting backdrop for an organization devoted to the handmade, the considered, and the enduring. We hope you will join us for what promises to be a memorable evening in support of CBA’s mission.