“Big Paper” was designed as a special event for college students studying paper and book arts to experience making large sheets of paper. Paper Museum staff invited faculty at nearby art programs to participate with their classes. Students from Kennesaw State University, the University of Georgia, Georgia State University, and University of West Georgia participated in the event, as well as students, faculty, and staff from Georgia Tech. The sheets of paper each measure four feet by six feet and require at least six people per sheet to transfer from the forming mould to the pressing area. 

Each group made four sheets of paper, and after they dried, groups have received their giant papers back. While many participating students had made small sheets of paper before, these larger sheets were a special experience. Large-scale papermaking requires lots of room, plenty of water, and a considerable amount of time to prepare the pulp for papermaking. Even after the sheets are made, more time is needed for the paper to fully dry. For these sheets, the museum prepared a combination of abaca, which is a fiber in the banana family, and kozo, a bast fiber from Japan known for its strength. Decorative "confetti" of brightly colored paper was added to select sheets, and dried flowers and leaves were added to other sheets. “Big Paper” is something most students or papermakers will not have much opportunity to experience outside of this environment due to the specialized materials for production. 

The Paper Museum’s mission includes a goal of promoting the understanding of papermaking, and Big Paper more than meets this objective. In addition, the opportunity to share and spend time with other students helps to build a camaraderie among students at different schools. Organized by museum staff Anna Doll and Jerushia Graham, the event is greatly anticipated by participants year after year. 

For this fourth year, museum staff have refined the experience and have added thin boards on which each sheet of wet paper is laid on and then brushed smooth. When the weather cooperates with warm temperatures and sunny skies, each sheet of paper will dry within 24 hours, and the paper sticking to the board as it dries means that it will dry smoothly. 

"The event requires a great deal of planning and preparation," says Doll, "but the end result is satisfying to the participants and to us." 

Plans for the 2027 Big Paper will be made in early spring.