Graphic Arts Center Publishing

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Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company is a book publishing company based in Portland, Oregon, United States.

Graphic Arts Center is one of the northwest's largest book publishers, publishing about 40 books annually and selling over 500 titles to the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom and Europe.^[1] Using three imprints—Graphic Arts Center Publishing, Alaska Northwest Books, and WestWinds Press—Graphic Arts publishes and distributes books that focus on lifestyle and place.

[edit] History

Graphic Arts Center Publishing started in 1967 as a division of Graphic Arts Center, Inc., Oregon's largest printer. The publishing house was one of the pioneers in publishing large-format, full-color photographic books. These became known as "coffee table books." Their first book in this format was the popular Oregon, a book of photographs by Ray Atkeson, which became a series that includes Oregon 2 and Oregon III.^[2]

In the mid 1980s, Graphic Arts began to diversify from photographic books into subjects like children’s fiction and non-fiction. In 1993, Graphic Arts acquired Alaska Northwest Books, the largest trade book publisher in the Alaskan market.

In 1998, Graphic Arts started its third imprint, WestWinds Press, to launch a series of Western titles and photography books.

In April 2006, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.^[1] In October 2006, Ingram Book Group invested in Graphic Arts as part of a bankruptcy reorganization plan.^[3] In January 2007, Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company emerged from bankruptcy.^{[citation needed]}