The non-profit association Estonian Association of Designer Bookbinders was founded in 1996 and the eleven members of it are professional applied artists joined together by bookbinding and by belief in the necessity of that kind of art in the cultural scene of the world. That is why the association has made its purpose to organize pentennials, i.e., in every five years the international exhibitions of artistic bookbinding "Scripta manent" (writing remains) takes place. Artists can express themselves through exciting bookbinding techniques and materials, through exuberant compositions and diverse embellishments. Flight of thought is curbed only by the author him/herself and the text.

The association also organizes smaller exhibitions at homeland as well as abroad, runs courses, workshops and seminars here and there, introduces Estonian artistic bookbinding, makes contacts with colleagues, incites learning, searches and distributes professional information.




The Cultural Endowment of Estonia has awarded one of the annual prizes of the Visual and Applied Art Endowment in 2020 to the organising team of the international artistic bookbinding exhibition Scripta manent VI! Notwithstanding the complicated times, we remained determined to arrange the traditional bookbinding exhibition-competition and seminar. The accomplishment of the exhibition confirmed the durable vitality vested in the bookbinding culture. We are extremely appreciative of the prize and wish to express our gratitude to everyone involved - designer bookbinders, Valdur Mikita for his significant text, the ARS Art Factory, all supporters and visitors of the exhibition. Also, by all means, our genuine appreciation to the Cultural Endowment of Estonia who has made it possible for us to hold the exhibition for a sixth year in row. (Learn more)
The organising team of Scripta Manent VI from left: Rene Haljasmäe, Sirje Kriisa, Tiia Eikholm, Tulvi Turo, Tähti Roostalu and Lennart Mänd.