Beyond Papermaking: How the Morgan Conservatory Shapes Artists and Changemakers

by Adah Bitiah Chembo

When most people think of an arts center dedicated to every facet of papermaking, book arts and letterpress printing, they envision a place where artists transform an array of pigmented cotton pulp into sheets, turning raw fibers into delicate handmade paper. The Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory and Educational Foundation is not only a place where paper is made. It is a hub for Art, sustainability and community – an encouraging space for the artists and changemakers to look beyond their craft.

My name is Adah Bitiah Chembo from Zambia, Africa. I am the founder and Project Lead at Lean On Foundation, an organization working to provide sustainable development solutions to underserved communities in Zambia. I am also a mentor for the Women Environmental Programme under their Climate Justice Advocacy Mentorship program where I mentor African Feminist Climate Activists in Seven African countries. I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Demography with Development Studies from the University of Zambia and I am currently pursuing an Executive Diploma in Global Leadership with the University for Peace – a UN Mandated institution. I am an author of a book titled “The African Narrative: Who We Are Vs. Who We Ought to Be”. In addition, I am a 2024 Community Solutions Program Fellow under the thematic area of Environmental Issues. Through the Community Solutions Program, a prestigious professional development initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and supported in implementation by IREX, I was accorded the opportunity to be placed with the Morgan Conservatory as part of my four-month hands-on U.S. practicum experience.

Before starting my practicum experience with the Morgan, I was a bit unease. I was coming into a very unfamiliar space that was specialized in papermaking and art, something I had no idea of and it was scary. As I started my role as Studio and Community Arts Education Assistant, I got to learn about the environmentally sustainable conservation practices in use at the Morgan Conservatory, from plant to paper and in the art studios, I also got to coordinate the scheduling of custom workshops, participate in a papermaking workshop to get practical understanding of artforms being taught at the Morgan, and got the opportunity to do so much more than I envisioned. Through my work experience, I discovered that the Morgan is not only dedicated to preserving the art of hand papermaking, but also to nurturing changemakers like me who care deeply about our planet and its people. My time here has been transformative, offering me not only a deep dive into the intricacies of paper and book arts but also a space to connect my environmental mission with creative expression.