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To the Members of CBAA: the Association for Book Art Education
As educators and practitioners committed to inclusive book art education, we write to express our deep concern about the Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum and to ask for your collective support in holding this institution accountable.
The Museum’s board made the unconscionable decision to cancel IBé Crawley’s BIWOC residency just days before it was set to begin. This program was built by artists and donors who believed in Hamilton’s stated mission of inclusivity. Canceling it inflicted real financial and professional harm on the artist and betrayed the community’s trust. We have also learned that workshops have been canceled, disrupting both students and instructors. We stand in solidarity with any CBAA members affected.
Hamilton’s response has been inadequate—non-transparent, dismissive, and offering only empty assurances. We call on the Museum’s board to be fully transparent: disclose the decision-making process behind this cancellation and outline concrete steps toward accountability. If the board cannot commit to genuine transparency, we demand that the current executive leadership resign.
Five CBAA members, including two of our board members, had organized programming for the 2025 Hamilton Wayzgoose. In their public open letter on Instagram, they stated:
“We have canceled our contributions to this year’s Wayzgoose, including keynote presentations, exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations. We cannot in good conscience lend our expertise and reputations to an institution that has demonstrated such disregard for the artists and values we champion in our educational work.”
We urge you to read their letter here.
Join Our Collective Action
We encourage all CBAA members to take the following steps with purpose and unity:
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Boycott the 2025 Wayzgoose (Nov 7–9) — Do not attend, present, or promote the event unless the Museum demonstrates genuine accountability and transparency.
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Write to the Hamilton Museum Board — Send respectful but firm letters demanding clarity, transparency, and cultural accountability.
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Make a Social Media Statement — Share your stance, amplify affected voices, and tag Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum to ensure your message is seen.
Only by collectively calling for transparency—or, if it is not forthcoming, demanding leadership resignations—can we begin restoring trust and recommitting to the values that should guide our shared work.
We also acknowledge that the CBAA board has made mistakes in the past. We continue to learn, to hold ourselves accountable, and to build a stronger, more equitable, and inclusive community together.
Hamilton’s actions reflect both a betrayal of trust and an abuse of power. The executive leadership must demonstrate real accountability or step aside to make room for renewed trust, inclusive leadership, and shared values.
--CBAA Board
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