Photobook Mania: First Biennial for Photobooks Launches in Bologna
The inaugural Photobook Mania, a biennial event dedicated to photobooks, is set to take place on October 18–19, 2025, at Bologna's Serra Madre cultural center. This free event, organized by PhMuseum, seeks to establish itself as a key player in the realm of independent photobook publishing, showcasing more than twenty publishers, such as Witty Books and Artphilein Editions. Attendees can look forward to over forty discussions, thematic workshops, and two exhibitions: "Dummies and Books from FOLIO 2024/25 Photobook Making Masterclass," conducted by Lewis Chaplin, alongside 25 projects from the PhMuseum 2025 Photobook Award, where a jury will choose a project for publication. Photobook Mania will alternate with PhMuseum Days, which is planned for autumn 2026. The Serra Madre opened its doors on September 12, 2024.
Key facts
- Photobook Mania is the first biennial dedicated to photobooks, taking place October 18–19, 2025.
- The event is held at Serra Madre, a cultural center in Bologna's Serre dei Giardini Margherita, inaugurated September 12, 2024.
- Over twenty international publishers are participating, including Artphilein Editions, Cesura, and Gost Books.
- The program includes more than forty meetings, workshops, and two exhibitions.
- One exhibition features photobook prototypes from the FOLIO 2024/25 masterclass led by Lewis Chaplin.
- The second exhibition presents 25 projects from the PhMuseum 2025 Photobook Award open call.
- The jury for the award includes Max Pinckers, Yumi Goto, Karla Hiraldo-Voleau, Giuseppe Oliverio, and Camilla Marrese.
- Photobook Mania alternates with PhMuseum Days, now also a biennial, scheduled for autumn 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Lewis Chaplin
- Max Pinckers
- Yumi Goto
- Karla Hiraldo-Voleau
- Giuseppe Oliverio
- Camilla Marrese
Institutions
- PhMuseum
- Serra Madre
- Serre dei Giardini Margherita
- Artphilein Editions
- Cesura
- Départ Pour L'Image
- Foto Evidence
- Giostre Edizioni
- Gost Books
- Havaiana Papers + Tiratura
- Leporello
- Macaroni Book
- Muddy Island
- Nube
- RUST Publishing
- RVM HUB
- Studio Faganel
- The Velvet Cell
- Witty Books
- Yogurt
- Zoetrope Athens
- Loose Joints
Locations
- Bologna
- Italy