Position Summary

The Director of Printmaking & Book Arts is responsible for the leadership, oversight, and advancement of all aspects of the Printmaking & Book Arts department at Lillstreet Art Center. This is a technical, hands-on role that combines program design, studio management, and community leadership with a deep working knowledge of both traditional and contemporary printmaking methods. The Director supervises all departmental personnel, manages the print studio facilities and technical operations, leads curriculum design and outreach, and supports the professional growth of teaching artists and the department’s Artist-in-Residence.

This role requires advanced technical printmaking expertise, strong organizational and interpersonal leadership, and the ability to balance strategic vision with daily operations. The Director is the department’s only dedicated staff member and serves as its primary point of contact across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership & Personnel Management

• Supervise all departmental personnel, including teaching artists (contract), studio monitors (volunteer), and the Artist-in-Residence.
• Oversee all hiring, onboarding, scheduling, and mentorship.
• Cultivate a healthy, inclusive, and collaborative studio culture; manage interpersonal and structural challenges as they arise.
• Represent the department across the organization and serve as its primary liaison to Lillstreet’s administrative team.
• Review AiR applications, conduct interviews, and select each year’s resident in collaboration with the Director of Outreach & Artist Programs. Provide comprehensive mentorship to the AIR.
• Manage and schedule all Open Studio sessions, including oversight of the volunteer monitor team. Coordinate coverage, provide training and support, and serve as a substitute when no other coverage is available to ensure consistent student access.

Curriculum Development & Scheduling

• Design and schedule all department classes and workshops across five sessions per year (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, Early Winter), including 5- and 10-week courses as well as seasonal workshops.
• Solicit, review, and develop course proposals from teaching artists if needed. 
• Coordinate with teaching artists to develop syllabi, refine curricula, and ensure accuracy and feasibility of material lists.
• Source and organize promotional imagery and course information for marketing materials.
• Prepare and assemble student kits and class supplies, with an emphasis on cost optimization, sustainable sourcing, and hands-on materials processing (e.g., cutting bulk linoleum blocks to size).

Technical & Studio Management

• Oversee full operations and maintenance of the print studio, including:
  • Equipment upkeep and repair (e.g., routine press maintenance, ventilation, exposure unit, and all other specialized studio equipment).
  • Chemical handling and compliance (e.g., ferric chloride maintenance, emulsion chemistry, solvent ventilation, and proper storage of hazardous materials).
  • Develop and refine best practices for the safe and effective use of all major equipment and studio chemicals.
  • Inventory management and ordering of all supplies (e.g., inks, paper, tools, safety equipment, etc.).
• Ensure studio safety, cleanliness, and accessibility for students, teachers, monitors, and AiR.
• Lead all compliance efforts regarding hazardous materials and studio procedures.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and make sure the studio stays functional, accessible, and supportive for everyone working in it.
• Maintain a physical archive of sample prints for all taught media to support class planning and demonstration, including: relief (linocut, woodcut), intaglio (etching, drypoint, aquatint), collagraph, monotype/monoprint, screenprinting, letterpress, book arts (binding, zines, artist books), cyanotype and alternative processes, and digital/hybrid printmaking.
• Coordinate any facilities improvements or technical upgrades in collaboration with the Facilities Manager and Director of Operations.

Program & Event Leadership

• Organize all workshops and short-form programs, including demos, single-day, and seasonal offerings.
• Collaborate with the Director of Outreach & Artists Programs for guest artist events. 
• Serve as the point person for department involvement in larger organizational events.

Administrative & Financial Oversight

• Manage the departmental budget, including purchasing, reimbursements, and monthly reconciliation in coordination with the Director of Finance.
• Propose and implement strategic programmatic improvements based on departmental needs, community feedback, and emerging opportunities.
• Maintain strong working relationships with other departments—especially Textiles (which shares the screenprinting washout booth and exposure unit), Painting & Drawing, and Digital Arts—to coordinate shared spaces and overlapping schedules.
• Attend administrative meetings and represent the department in cross-organizational discussions.

Communications & Promotion

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all inquiries related to the Printmaking & Book Arts department.
• Maintain clear, timely communication with teaching artists, monitors, residents, students, and administrative staff.
• Coordinate with the Director of Marketing & Outreach on newsletters, email campaigns, and class promotion; Manage the @lillstreetprintbook Instagram account.

Teaching & Emergency Support

• Actively teach classes as part of the department’s core offerings, helping shape the creative and educational energy of the studio.
• Serve as an emergency substitute when instructors are unavailable.
• Provide real-time troubleshooting and support for teachers and students, often outside of standard business hours.

Qualifications

• Advanced technical expertise in multiple printmaking methods and familiarity with equipment maintenance and studio safety protocols.
• Demonstrated experience teaching printmaking at a high level.
• Strong leadership, organization, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with community arts, adult education, and artist residency programs.
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the arts; ability to foster a respectful, welcoming, and accountable studio environment for students, staff, and artists of all backgrounds.

To Apply

• Email admin@lillstreet.com with a cover letter, updated resume and 3 references.