Enfilade

From ArtHist.net and the Blue Paper Research Consortium:

Blue Paper Workshop

Moulin du Verger, Puymoyen, France, 3–7 August 2026

Applications due by 15 April 2026

The Blue Paper Research Consortium (BPRC) is pleased to announce a five-day intensive workshop dedicated to the history and manufacture of handmade blue paper. Held at the Moulin du Verger, a working sixteenth-century papermill in the Charente region, near Angoulême, this workshop is a rare opportunity to bridge historical research with material practice. Participants will work alongside a team of specialists to explore pre-industrial papermaking and dyeing methods, drawing on years of interdisciplinary research into Western European blue paper.

This immersive program explores the manufacturing of Western European blue paper and its historical applications in European art. Participants will experiment with traditional techniques, preparing their own reference sheets with various coloring methods.

Objectives
• Discovering traditional Western European papermaking techniques
• Preparing blue dyes from natural colorants
• Identifying papermaking- and dyeing techniques from samples
• Exploring the applications of blue paper by artists in Europe (prints, drawings, pastels, books) before 1800

Cost: 1300 EUR (includes all workshop materials; excludes travel, dinner, and accommodation)
Capacity: Limited to 8 participants to ensure a high-quality learning experience.
Grant Opportunity: Supporting Diversity and Future Professionals
Through the generous support of the Tavolozza Foundation, we are proud to offer six full-tuition grants for the 2026 workshop. The BPRC and the Tavolozza Foundation are committed to ensuring that specialized knowledge in historical paper technology remains accessible to a broad and inclusive community. These grants are intended to support graduate students, junior professionals, and colleagues from under-resourced institutions.

The program aims to
• Expand Access to Specialized Knowledge: Provide emerging scholars and professionals with hands-on training in historical papermaking and dyeing techniques that are rarely accessible through conventional academic programs.
• Bridge the Resource Gap: Provide high-level professional development to those whose institutions may lack the funding for international specialized training.
• Empower Emerging Voices: Support the next generation of paper historians, conservators, and curators by providing direct access to master craftsmen and leading researchers.
• Enrich Scholarly Dialogue: Foster a diverse group of participants whose varied geographic, institutional, and cultural perspectives contribute to a richer exchange of ideas and research.

The grant includes full workshop registration (€1300 value) and daily lunch at the mill. Grant recipients are responsible for travel, accommodation, and dinners. To apply for the grant, please submit:
• Motivation letter explaining how the workshop will benefit your research or professional practice
• Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)

Applications should be sent to Leila Sauvage (leila.sauvage@gmail.com) and Edina Adam (EAdam@getty.edu) by 15 April 2026. Please include ‘Blue Paper Workshop Grant Application’ in the subject line.

In addition to the funded places, two standard registration spots are available at the fee of €1300. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact Leila Sauvage and Edina Adam.