About Taproots

Taproots is an urban neighborhood art school, founded in 1990, housed in a spacious former parochial school.

Our mission is to use art to encourage creative self expression, to foster literacy education and to strengthen communities through building relationships.

Our hallmark children’s program, currently placed in six public elementary schools, is "Literacy through the Arts." We teach creative writing, papermaking, paper marbling, hand-bookbinding, letterpress printing, calligraphy, photography and pop-up page art.

As children engage the process of making a book, they gain a positive, meaningful connection with books, while increasing their facility in handling language and images.

The Book Arts Center

The mission of Taproots Book Arts Center is to:

• advance the book as a vital contemporary art form
• preserve the traditions of bookmaking and paper crafts
• provide an environment for learning, experimentation, production and collaboration

Book Arts classes are ongoing, for students at all levels of ability, using professional, well-equipped studios.

Taproots’ Commitment

Taproots is committed to making art available and affordable to all. We offer financial assistance and work-study opportunities, based upon ability to pay.

Come, join us!

Use your talents to help others develop theirs. Volunteers are needed to work on a variety of projects and events at Taproots.

• Receptionist
• Clerical
• Event staff
• Bookkeeping
• Publicity
• Fundraising
• Gardening
• Window repair
• Light construction

Contact us at bookArts2003@taproots.org.