About us
The WCBA, the Wellington Centre for Book Arts, opened in central Wellington in 2019. More details here. It's the first of its kind in this part of the world.
The WCBA is the book arts arm of The Printing Museum—the largest letterpress collection and the only working type foundry in the Southern Hemisphere.
Bringing together passionate people for letterpress, bookbinding, and book arts classes and events, whether you're new to printing or an old hand.
Join up to stay informed of upcoming events, then join in!
And do tell us what classes you would like.
Upcoming events
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Christchurch Introduction to Letterpress
Ferrymead Printing Society, 50P Ferrymead Park Drive, Christchurch, NZThis three-hour course is the perfect introduction to the traditional method of printing with lead type. Letterpress was the main method of printing for over 500 years from Johannes Gutenburg’s 1450s bible to recent times.
Letterpress has seen a huge revival in the United States and Britain while locally a number of artists and craftsmen have maintained the tradition. The three dimensional nature of letterpress is the perfect antidote to the flatness of digital print. This class will give you an insight into how the equipment, materials and techniques work.
The course will cover basic typography, composition, layout and letterpress techniques such as lockup, inking and paper selection on tabletop platens, proof presses and an iron handpress as time allows. Perfect if you're considering buying a press and wondering where to start.
The workshop is run by Graham Judd, qualified letterpress machinist of Inkiana Press, with help from other trained letterpress printers. Graham is one of the top letterpress educators in the country and regularly teaches abroad: www.inkianapress.co.nz
Venue: Ferrymead printing Society, 50P Ferrymead Park Drive, Christchurch 8022
Time: 6.30-9.30pm Friday 15th May, 2026.
Cost: $80 (less 10% for members) includes tuition, materials and letterpress booklet. Also 10% discount for all three weekend classes. Places are limited and can only be confirmed by payment.
Enrolments to: info@theprintingmuseum.org.nz
2 attendees
Bookbinding Basics
262 Thorndon Quay, Wellington, NZThis weekend workshop covers all the basics you need to start bookbinding:
- basic book structures
- cutting paper and board
- sewing signatures, with and without tapes and cords
- attaching book blocks to boards using thread, tapes, cords, mull
- shaping and covering boards (which also covers adhesives, doing corners, infilling and lining)
- discussing design considerations like:
* how to choose a binding style for the content
* squares or no squares
* including endpapers
* bindings that open out flat
* tipping in pages
* using stubs
This workshop is led by artist, bookbinder and printer, Terrie Reddish of Imprimo Press in Havelock North. To learn more about Terrie and her artistic journey see https://www.terrie-reddish.co.nz
Venue: WCBA, Wellington Centre for Book Arts, Woolstore Building, 262 Thorndon Quay, Wellington.
Time: 9.30am-4.00pm Sat. 6th and Sun. 7th May, 2026.
Cost: $290 (less 10% for members). Places are limited and can only be confirmed by payment.
Enrolments to: info@theprintingmuseum.org.nz3 attendees
Past events
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