My Crazy Box

My Crazy Box is organised by the Stichting Handboekbinden. Participation is open to everyone in Europe!

UPDATE
We are very pleased with everyone who has registered for the competition, but unfortunately the number is too few for the competition to go ahead. The minimum number of entries was 75.

We know that a number of people are already working hard to create something beautiful or have an idea that they would like to give shape. The board of the Dutch Society of Bookbinders obviously does not want to let this pass by and offered every registrant the following:

  • Your ‘Crazy Box’ shown at the exhibition at our book fair ‘BoekAmbachtBeurs’ 2024 in the Netherlands
  • One or more photo’s & a description of your entry (shown together with all other entries) in an online photo gallery on our website.

The conditions for the design of the box remain the same, but the participation fee has been lowered to a contribution for the return shipping & administration costs of € 15.–. The submission period has been extended until May 15, 2024.

Do you also would like to participate? You still can! Register by sending an email with your address details to info@stichting-handboekbinden.eu

Voor de Nederlandse beschrijving klik hier.

What’s so ‘crazy’ about a box?
What is a crazy box? Let’s say it’s about the unusual, different from the ordinary standard box. In that, simplicity can actually be a key word.

  • It’s about a box, into which you can put ‘something’ and from which you can take ‘something’ out again. It does not have to be a book, but of course it can be.
  • To keep the box shippable, the maximum size has been set at 30 x 30 x 15 cm. Any contents of the box do no need to be sent with the box.
  • The box must be constructed of cardboard. Wood, stone, plastic, glass or other non-carton or paper-like materials as a base are not allowed. For the covering, you are completely free to choose. Paper, linen, leather, textile fabric or even papier-mâché are all allowed.

Don’t let the constraints stop you from giving free rein to your creative spirit. Originality and design are important points of attention for the jury. Of course, they will also judge on technical execution, functionality and materials used.

As with the previous Box your Book competition, there are no prizes. Depending on the number of entries, a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 50 works will be chosen that will receive a detailed description with photos in the printed catalogue and will be part of a number of exhibitions in the Netherlands and Belgium, which will collectively last up to a year.

Minimum number of entries
The minimum number of entries for this competition to go ahead is 75. In that case, 30 works will be awarded prizes and go on tour. Once the number of entries is known, the minimum number of awards to be given will be determined. In addition to the awards, non-awarded works will also receive an entry in the catalogue, which all participants will receive. Outside participation, the catalogue can be obtained for € 20.-

Would you like to register?
You can register for participation by sending an e-mail with your name and address details to info@stichting-handboekbinden.eu.
This can be done until 6 November 2023. With a minimum of 75 applications, participants have until 15 February 2024 to submit the box.

In short, how does it work?

  • Subscribe via an e-mail or the form on the website. This can be done until 6 November 2023. If there are 75 or more entries, the contest will go ahead.
  • In case the competition goes ahead, you will receive a payment request before 15 November 2023.
  • Registration is final when the participation fee of €40 is paid before 30 November.
  • A participant may enter with several boxes, if a participation fee of €40 is paid for each box.
  • After registration, each participant will receive a participation form and a description of the competition and its rules. The entry form describes the box technically and content-wise. Make a technical enumeration of format and the materials and techniques used, as well as a description of at least 100 and no more than 200 words about the idea behind it, the inspiration, the design, the execution and all further considerations. You must submit this form printed or digital at the same time as the piece of work.
  • Your entry must be in our possession by 15 February 2024.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

The Stichting Handboekbinden guarantees that the data provided by the participant will be treated confidentially and will be used only for the competition.