A.R.A (Amis de la Reliure d'Art) is an international non-profit-making organization, founded in France in 1982 by Marcel Garrigou and friends.
Today, the association has a total of more than 1000 members in various countries. Its main goal consists in promoting this distinctive and not widely known art: bookbinding as fine art.
The association is not only involved with traditional and modern bookbinding, but also with contemporary bookbinding trends in all countries. According to its statutes, A.R.A supports or generates various events, exhibitions, competitions and fairs, in order to show bookbinding works of artists to an audience as large as possible. It strives to organize a biennial event, the ' International Forum of Art Bookbinding' FIRA (Foire Internationale de la Reliure d'Art). Last forum was held in Freiburg, Switzerland in 2007.
A.R.A publications include brochures and catalogues of exhibitions. They aim at gaining public visibility for art bookbinding through press articles, more specifically in the trade press and audio-visual media.
On the occasion of the 5th Forum in Montreal in 1996, ARA INTERNATIONAL was founded, becoming thus the global federation of all A.R.A associations. This body does not compete with any national associations. On the contrary, it gives them support and initiates projects and partnerships on an international level. Ara Intl. creates national and regional committees and appoints representatives in various countries. It is open to professional artists, bibliophiles, publishers and booksellers, bookbinding schools, non-professional bookbinders, curators and to all those who are fond of this art, even without any special expertise.
ARA is looking forward to welcoming you as a member.
