Colleagues of Calligraphy upcoming events

August Calligraphy Camp (August 11, 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 23:30:00 GMT

You are invited to 2026 Calligraphy Camp hosted by the Colleagues of Calligraphy.

In August, we will uphold the camp tradition of scrapbooks by creating a simple pamphlet stitch journal. Our thought is that you can use your handmade journal to record your notes of the 2026-2027 Colleagues of Calligraphy season.

Please bring 4-7 small sheets of your favorite paper and any book-making supplies you may have (awl, thread, needles, etc.). If you don't have any supplies - fear not - we will have supplies to use and share.

Please join us for 15 minutes or all two hours to create your journal, visit with the Colleagues and enjoy a treat.

We’ve got some great calligraphy memories in the making for the upcoming season - let's create a journal to collect them!

Programs are free for members. However, guests are welcome to attend one in person program in a season.

Map & Directions to Hillside Church

Season Opener (September 19, 2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Tools of the Trade

Join your fellow Colleagues for:

Last day to drop off pieces for the Cargill Gallery show
Demonstrations
Stations for trying out different tools (pens, paper, inks, etc.)
Make your own cola-pen (as seen at last year's Maker U)
Sneak peak of what's to come in the October Neuland workshop
Peruse and check out Library materials
All members are encouraged to bring pieces for informal sharing
Light refreshments
Swap table - for calligraphic related books, tools, materials
Meet the new board, meet new members

Programs are free for members. However, guests are welcome to attend one in person program in a season.

Map & Directions to Hillside Church

Exhibition Program: Talk & Gallery Tour (October 11, 2026)

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 19:30:00 GMT

The Power of the Pencil: How this simple tool changed the world

Talk by Anne Kaese, calligrapher and medieval art tool historian
Preceded and followed by Gallery Tours
Demonstrations and members in gallery to answer questions

This event takes place at the library and is open to the public.

Map & Directions to Cargill Gallery at Minneapolis Central Library

Weekend Workshop: Neuland Play (October 17, 2026)

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Weekend of Neuland

Date is firm - put it on your calendar.

Registration will open soon.

Details and Supply List coming.

Map & Directions to Hillside Church

Weekend Workshop: Neuland Play (October 18, 2026)

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Weekend of Neuland

Date is firm - put it on your calendar.

Registration will open soon.

Details and Supply List coming.

Map & Directions to Hillside Church

Exhibition Reception (November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Cargill Gallery Reception

Hosted by Colleagues Members
Preceded and followed by Gallery Tours
Demonstrations and members in gallery to answer questions
Light refreshment

This event takes place at the library and is open to the public.

Map & Directions to Cargill Gallery at Minneapolis Central Library

Exhibition Program: Calligraphy Up Close (November 15, 2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Calligraphy Up Close: Write, Watch, and Ask Questions About Calligraphy

Hosted by Colleagues Members
Preceded and followed by Gallery Tours
Demonstrations and members in gallery to answer questions

This event takes place at the library and is open to the public.

Map & Directions to Cargill Gallery at Minneapolis Central Library

Winter Play Day: Online or Small Groups (December 12, 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 18:30:00 GMT

Winter Play Day: Inspired by the Book of Kells

To attend online:

Members: This is a free program, but you must register to receive the link to join.
Nonmembers: Register to join us for $5.
All registrants will receive an email reminder with the link to join the online program.

To attend online with friends...

In the past, members have gathered in small groups and watched together, online!
Reach out to your Colleagues if you want to make it a party!

Anne Kaese will demonstrate methods to create basic Celtic Knots.

Sally Wightkin will demonstrate how to create Insular Majuscule - the style of writing found in the Book of Kells.

Basic supply list coming soon.

Registration opens 9/1/26

Online Program: Historical Topic TBD (January 16, 2027)

Sat, 16 Jan 2027 18:30:00 GMT

Online Program: Historical Topic TBD

For the past several years we have dedicated January's online meeting to studying old manuscripts and other historical calligraphic topics of interest.

This month we will do the same - topic to be finalized. Stay tuned!

Members: This is a free program, but you must register to receive the link to join.
Nonmembers: Register to join us for $5.
You will receive the link to join the program a few days before the program.

Details coming soon.

Registration opens 9/1/26

Maker University Evening Program (February 12, 2027)

Sat, 13 Feb 2027 00:30:00 GMT

Maker U 2027 Keynote Address (TBD)

Maker University is a mini-online calligraphy conference. It starts off with this Friday evening presentation followed by an entire day where members of the Colleagues share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of calligraphy-related topics. Hands-on, lecture, sharing, Q&A; all methods of exploring calligraphy and related arts will abound!

This is a free progam for all, but you must register in order to receive the link to join. We will send the link to join a few days before the program.

Details coming.

Registration will open soon.

Maker U 2027 (February 13, 2027)

Sat, 13 Feb 2027 14:00:00 GMT

Maker University 2027

Maker University is a mini-online calligraphy conference: an entire day where members of the Colleagues share their knowledge and expertise on a variety of calligraphy-related topics. Hands-on, lecture, sharing, Q&A; all methods of exploring calligraphy and related arts will abound!

You will receive the link to join a few days before the event.

Note: Don't forget that it is a separate registration for the free program on Friday.

Details and Supply List coming.

Cost:

Members: $25
Nonmembers: $35

Registration will open when details are set.

Member Program: Field Trip to The James Ford Bell Library (March 20, 2027)

Sat, 20 Mar 2027 17:30:00 GMT

Member Program: Field Trip to The James Ford Bell Library

The James Ford Bell Library (part of the Archives & Special Collections of the Andersen Library of the University of Minnesota) makes history come alive through its premier collection of rare books, manuscripts, maps, archival collections, and other materials that document the history and impact of trade and cultural exchange prior to ca. 1800 CE.

Website: https://www.lib.umn.edu/collections/special/bell

Member, Janey Westin and manuscript librarian, Maggie Ragnow, will be our guide while at the James Ford Bell Museum.

Last season when we visited the library, we were awed by the many manuscript pages that Maggie curated for us. Janey guided us on analysing a historical hand and helped us to create our own exemplar based on that analysis.

Janey will once again lead us in the close analysis of a historical hand, exploring its design, lettering, and artistic features while drawing inspiration from original manuscripts on display.

As an added incentive, Maggie is organizing an exhibition at the library in fall 2028. The exhibition will pair an original manuscript page with a work created by one of our members in response to it. Your piece might be a faithful copy, a modern interpretation of the original, illuminated initials inspired by a selected page, or another work that is clearly influenced by the historical manuscript. The original and the contemporary work will be displayed side by side at the James Ford Bell Library.

Supplies to Bring:

We will be using chisel-edge markers. NO LIQUID INK is allowed in the room.

Please bring a 2.5mm calligraphy marker - brand does not matter, but Janey will have guide sheets available to coincide with a 2.5mm marker (suggestions in links below).

Paper - inexpensive drawing paper or even copy paper - as long as your marker does not bleed

Pencil and notepaper.

To support participants throughout the project, we will schedule several opportunities to meet, share progress, receive feedback, and refine work in preparation for the exhibition in fall 2028.

This is an exciting (and rare!) opportunity to train your eye and learn an essential calligraphy skill from original documents.

Members: This is a free program
Guests can attend one free in person program a season.

26-27 Annual Meeting (May 15, 2027)

Sat, 15 May 2027 17:30:00 GMT

Season Wrap-Up

Join your Colleagues for:

Annual meeting and voting for next season's board
Demonstrations
Hands on activities (details to be announced)
Return of all Library materials
All are encouraged to bring pieces for informal sharing - especially something that might have been created this past season!
Light refreshments
Swap table - for calligraphic related books, tools, materials

Programs are free for members. However, guests are welcome to attend one in person program in a season.

Map & Directions to Hillside Church