Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (2021) – We’re proud to announce that IS Projects’ Existent Books project was selected as one of the winners of the Knight Arts Challenge last year! Historically, Existent Books has been an invitational opportunity. With funding from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, we are excited to announce an open call for one of our 2021 Existent Books and are accepting proposals through February 7, 2021.

Existent Books is a semi-annual publishing initiative which brings artists to IS Projects to experience fine art printmaking and letterpress printing. These artists then design an artist-book that is inspired by our collection of historical letterpress type and image cuts or new printmaking techniques learned at IS Projects. The goal of Existent Books is to encourage contemporary artists to contribute to the ongoing history of book arts while stimulating the evolution of the medium. To learn more about the project, visit our Existent Books page and for more context on the Existent Books Residency, read our interview with the 2020 selected artists, Michelle AM Miller and Onajide Sabaka.

The project includes a $2,500 artist stipend for a one to two week residency during Summer 2021 while developing a fine art book project at IS Projects with the help of a master printmaker and critical feedback from visiting guest curators. 2021 Existent Books will be officially released to the public in Fall 2021 and may include additional programming such as a release party and artist talks. Artists will receive five artist proof copies upon completion of the project.

Interested in applying, but unsure of how you might incorporate text? Applicants are given the option to collaborate with O, Miami and utilize their archive of poetry! *Please note that this year we do have a bias towards artists who elect to collaborate with O, Miami, though it is not a requirement.

To apply, you must be an artist living and working in South Florida, residing in one of the following counties: Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Collier, Palm Beach, Hendy, Lee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Glades and Martin County.

Information on our previous Existent Books projects and artists is attached here for your convenience. Please feel free to distribute this open call. For more information about events, visit www.isprojectsfl.com. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.