PROGRAMS at THE BINDERY

The Bindery offers a wide array of public and private hands-on programs. We're here to help all ages experience the joy of book arts and creative practice for students, tour groups, and teams of all kinds.

Our facility is home to dozens of pieces of historic equipment to see (and use!) for bookbinding, letterpress, marbling, and more. Check out our calendar for upcoming classes or scroll for more custom options.

UPCOMING CLASSES

We run public workshops throughout the year, which are announced seasonally. Taught by experts, with materials provided!

Don't see what you need? Scroll down

for custom options built just for you.

CLASS CALENDAR

CUSTOM EXPERIENCES

Tailored to your needs and brought to you by experts. Allow us to host your group for a private class built just for you. We're experienced with all age groups and levels of experience and welcome you as you are.

Details and pricing are below, or feel free to reach out to have us craft a custom experience for you based on your interests. Weekend slots are available on a limited basis: please inquire.

TOURS FOR ALL AGES

See a vintage bindery and print shop at work! Great for curious minds interested in local industrial history, book arts, and creative practice.

Our Standard Tour is a chance to see The Bindery's main workshop and get up close and personal with Milwaukee's oldest book making hub! Our fun and informative tours include:

A walk-though of our space to learn about our historic shop & equipment.
A chance to see and touch some of the custom items we create here.
Seeing some of our unique equipment in action.
Time for questions with our expert team.

These tours do not include a hands-on element. Want to make a memento while here? Check out a Deluxe tour instead. Otherwise reach out to schedule a Standard Tour today!

1 hour
~ 25 guests, max
Starting at $200

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We love giving tours of our unique, historic workshop! The Bindery is full of 100 year-old equipment, tools, and all sorts of projects in motion. We're essentially a working museum!

As an educational facility, we're adept at running tours for many ages and interests. Our team can cater to your group's needs and focus on history, printmaking, bookbinding, zines, or a good mix of them all.

We're here to make your visit special: please see details and pricing in the next tabs. Tour times tend to book up several weeks in advance: please be sure to schedule asap.

Experience art & history in our hands-on tour. Great for curious groups and creative minds itchy make something while here.

1.5 hours
~ 15 guests, max
Starting at $300

Our Deluxe Tour is a chance to see The Bindery, and experience it with a hands-on component! This tour starts with our Standard option including:

A walk-though of our space to learn about our historic shop & equipment.
A chance to see and touch some of the custom items we create here.
Seeing some of our unique equipment in action.
Time for questions with our expert team.

A Deluxe tour then moves into a short, hands-on experience to create something simple together like a tiny booklet or letterpress postcard! Each attendee leaves with new knowledge of book arts, and their own creation to prove it!

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TEAM BUILDING

Crafted to encourage mindfulness, foster deeper connections, and facilitate personal and professional development.

The Bindery partners with House of Anaya to offer more in-depth and intentional team building activities focused on overarching business goals such as:

Wellness in the workspace
Empowerment and equity
Money mindfulness
Deep, collaborative investment
Leadership and professional development

These tailored experiences are custom built to your business' needs by House of Anaya, and hosted here at The Bindery's beautiful, historic venue. They may or may not involve a hands-on aspect depending on your budget and goals: please reach out for detailed options and pricing.

Short form or multi-session options
~ 30 guests, max
Starting at $2000

Inquire Here

As a small creative business, we know the importance of a strong staff, working together. The Bindery's team building program is a unique blend of expert facilitation and creative practice all set against the backdrop of our beautiful facility.

Bring your team by for a session of creative problem solving as we work to craft something together. How can your individual strengths can be better implemented in processes you face at work daily? Let's find out with our hands-on approach: it's fun and fulfilling with no prior experience necessary!

We're here to make your visit special: please see details and pricing in the next tabs.

A playful look at teamwork: let's craft a poster together as we explore the art of play

3 hours
~ 10 or 15 people
Starting at $800*
*Discounted pricing available for small non-profits and community orgs.

In our flagship offering, Playful Posters focuses on the importance of play and creativity in the workplace. How do you define play? How do others on your team? Let's make a collaborative letterpress poster together and find out!

This experience is led by a professional business facilitator and focuses on how our "play-personalities" manifest on their own, and integrate with others we're collaborating with daily. Put your sense of play into action as you build a letterpress poster with your colleagues (for everyone to take home at the end).

This activity is fun and builds synergy and connection by getting out of the office and thinking creatively. Looking for something more in-depth and strategic? Please see the "custom retreats" tab.

Inquire Here

PRIVATE CLASSES

Custom learning experiences built just for you! Our team of experts is set to teach a wide array of subjects.

If our standard options aren't the right fit, our team can custom build an experience from scratch.

We offer tutorials for small parties or large group gatherings and can host you all day or even for multi-session lessons. Our team can focus in on something specific or combine different elements of design, print, and binding: the possibilities are endless!

We are also happy to work with our trusted catering partners to assist with food and beverage planning (including alcohol service) for longer programs. Please inquire.

Pricing varies based on complexity, number of students, and necessary planning. Please reach out to our team to discuss your needs.

*Looking for 1:1 lessons? We offer those through out community print and bind program here.

3+ hours
Up to 75 people
Starting at $700

Inquire Here

The Bindery offers the option to book a special class in our historic workshop just for you and your group! Taught by an expert with all professional-grade materials included.

Great for birthdays, friend-nights, youth groups, wedding fun: you name it! We offer standard book arts and printing workshops, or we can help custom build the event of your dreams for something extra special.

Our space includes a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave, and coffeepot: outside food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome!

Please see click tabs for details and to schedule.

Grab a group of friends and schedule a private evening of learning with out expert team!

3 hours
5-12 people
BYO Snacks
Pricing varies

The Bindery offers several pre-packaged private class offerings for five or more people. Please inquire for more details. We can't wait to host your group for any of the following:

Hardcover or Japanese Binding: starting at $500
Experimental Marbling 101: starting at $400
Wire-bound Journals: starting at $400
*Letterpress printing is offered in private lessons via our community print shop program. Please click here for details

All classes include professional-grade materials and expert instruction. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are welcome! Looking for something different, larger, or with catered drink service? Check out the next tab for custom options.

Inquire Here

Women have been an essential part of the book and print world for centuries: welcome newcomers!

3 hours
~15 students
Starting at $400

Inquire Here

For Girl Scouts troops looking to earn the Cadette Book Artist Badge, we've got you covered! Our Cadette Certification class covers all 5 steps required toward earning this creative badge--all in one compact outing!

This class includes a tour, an explanation of tools, equipment, and how books are made, plus the chance to see examples of books we've created right here in-house. Several different hands-on activities to make sewn and glued books together follows.

This class builds in time for a 30 minute break for food. Our kitchenette, including a fridge and microwave, is available for use: BYO snacks and beverages!

Tours

Team building

Private Classes

PROGRAMS at THE BINDERY

UPCOMING CLASSES

CUSTOM EXPERIENCES

TOURS FOR ALL AGES

TEAM BUILDING

PRIVATE CLASSES

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