A.R.A (Amis de la Reliure d'Art) is an international non-profit-making organisation, founded in France in 1982 by Marcel Garrigou and friends.
Today, the association is composed of different countries: ARA Belgica, ARA Canada, ARA France, ARA Italia, ARA Greece, ARA Suisse. Its main goal is to promote the distinctive and not widely known art of bookbinding as fine art.
The association is not only involved in traditional and modern bookbinding, but also in 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 art to large audiences. It strives to organise a biennial event, the 'International Forum of Art Bookbinding' FIRA (Foire Internationale de la Reliure d'Art).
latest exhibitions: Limoges (2005) , 2011 the Xth forum was held in Brugge, Belgium , in 2014 XIth in Nîmes, France.
A.R.A publications include brochures and catalogues of exhibitions. They aim to gain public visibility for art bookbinding through press articles, more specifically in the trade press and audio-visual media.
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 those without any special expertise.
ARA is looking forward to welcoming you as a member.