Spudnik Press Cooperative is looking for a new leader to change and grow the organization into its next phase. As the Executive Director of Spudnik, you are a strong advocate of the organization, staff, and printmaking community. You uphold Spudnik’s mission of providing printmaking facilities and services for artists who need a place to create or exhibit their original artwork, and of offering education in printmaking practices by uniting professional artists with a diverse community of learners.

View the Executive Director job description

Founded on the premise that art should be a democratic and empowering medium, Spudnik is committed to being an approachable and affordable print shop; a space where professional printmakers can meet aspiring students; and a space that encourages collaboration and the sharing of ideas. As Spudnik enters its fifteenth year, you will be uniquely positioned to move the organization in a new direction, ushering in new growth and building upon Spudnik’s legacy.

This is a permanent full-time position. Applicants should be based in Chicago by the start date. Occasional evening and weekend events will require attendance. Employee benefits include paid vacation, paid holiday and sick time.

View the Executive Director job description

Spudnik Press Cooperative does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.

Dear Spudnik Community,

We have heard from many of you – both current and former community members and staff – on areas we need to improve to ensure Spudnik is an approachable, inclusive, respectful, and nurturing community space and workplace. Thank you for coming forward and speaking to us. Please know that we hear you and are working on moving the process forward.

Instrumental to this process will be a close working relationship with our staff, who are dedicated to making this transition effective.  We would like to state that the staff were not the subject of these concerns, and that they were not informed of the concerns brought to the board by former staff and community members when this news was initially announced. The staff are committed to collaborating with us as we work toward change.

As a largely new board, we are committed to positively shaping the culture at Spudnik to ensure we’re living our values across all facets of the organization. As part of these efforts, this year we’ll be adding two board seats dedicated to Spudnik community members, without annual dues. We are working on revising our grievance process to ensure that staff feel safe and supported, and we will revisit the salaries of current staff. We will also commit to engaging our community member base on more ways we can improve in the coming weeks.

As we begin our search for a new Executive Director, we are committed to finding a strong leader and team builder that shares our values. We have begun working with a search committee and dedicated members of staff that will be involved in the hiring process.

Please be patient with us as we work towards answering your queries. Emails addressed to boardofdirectors@spudnikpress.org will be answered in turn as we balance a number of tasks that require our immediate attention.

We thank all community members and staff for their patience during this time of transition. This is a difficult time for all of us. Please know that we will do what we can to move in a positive direction.

Sincerely,
Spudnik Press Board of Directors

With the end of the year rushing up at us, Spudnik would like to take some time to sit with our community and reflect on everything that makes us who we are. Starting November 30, we invite you to come help us in Unwrapping Spudnik. We have five weeks with five themes that will focus on different elements of our community, artistic life, and what makes Spudnik such a dish. We’re also asking you to help us raise $5,000. That’s just $1,000 a week, and will help us keep the studio stocked, supplied, and affordable. 

Every week from now to the end of the year we’re going to unwrap another gift. Everyone who donates $25 to us that week will be entered into a drawing to win that gift. If you want to make sure you’re entered in all five drawings, just donate $100 at any time during the campaign and you’ll be entered in all the remaining drawings. However much you give, make sure you leave your mailing address; we’re sending something special to everyone. 

DONATE NOW

Here’s a sneak preview of the treasures we’re sharing with you.

You probably know we have a risography printer, but have you been formally introduced? Do you wonder what it’s like to be a piece of retro-modern equipment that’s equal parts charming for its simplicity and full of moving parts ready to wear out? Check out the equipment week announcement to learn more about what it takes to keep our beloved riso printer running and some of the very cool projects that it has helped make during its time with us. Also, take this opportunity to share a tool, space, or piece of equipment you love and use in your artmaking. 

Help us maintain our equipment. Give today!

Our members are the core of our Cooperative here at Spudnik Press, so our second unwrapping week is going to focus on them. Meet some of the fabulous and remarkable people who’ve joined Spudnik, the amazing work they’ve done, and revisit what it means to be a non-profit, community-driven print studio. Do you have a favorite Spudnik memory that you’d like to share? Pass it along by email or social media and you can be part of the Unwrapping.

Give the gift of creativity, gift a Spudnik membership!

The studio is more than the walls and the presses; Spudnik is its people, too. At that intersection is Spudnik’s staff, the intrepid team of folks who keep Spudnik running. For staff week you’ll get to know some of the staff, hear about their art, their pets, and their favorite part of Spudnik. You should be prepared to share back, especially if you have cute photos of your pets!

Become a sustaining donor.

Twenty-five dollars to enter a drawing is just $5 a day, which is basically the price of a nice coffee. But we all know one cannot simply deprive the artistic muse of caffeine tithes. Instead of pitching the virtues of chemical withdrawal, we’re spending a week focusing on coffee, and more importantly, what different members of the Spudnik community do to focus and find inspiration even when the flow isn’t coming easily. Do you have something you’d like to share for this week? Share ahead of time and we’ll include you in Coffee Week! Tea drinkers are strongly encouraged to join in and start the theobromine-addicts of Spudnik club.

A sip is good. Investing in the Chicago creative community is great.

Twice a year Spudnik brings in a cohort of fellows who get access to the studio, professional development, and peer support to further them in their artistic practice and support their emerging careers. This is one of many ways we support our community and foster an expansive love of print. Fellowship week will give you a closer look at this program, a chance to meet some of our fellows, and an exciting window on the real world impact of your spudly support. Speaking of support, do you still have your first print? We want to see it! Don’t have a first print to share? Show us any piece of art you have and love.

Help us continue our Fellowship Program. Donate now.

For sharing each week, you can interact with us on social media, or email jessica@spudnikpress.org. Also, keep your eye on your inbox and on our social media to see the prizes each week unwraps (hint: week one has art!) and get updates on our progress.

HELP SPUDNIK FINISH 2021 STRONG

Spudnik Press is turning 14! We are celebrating through three different avenues that bring our community closer despite being socially apart since the pandemic. We invite you to support our milestone and make a huge impact on Spudnik’s mission today and beyond. 

Throughout the month of June, we are highlighting the amazing people that make up our community through a series of email interviews! On our birthday (June 8th), we will launch a flash fundraiser on Facebook to raise money for a wheelchair-accessible hand sink with eyewash station and we need your support! Please consider pitching in to buy us a communal birthday present.

Later this month, we are also launching a limited edition shirt to raise funds as we continue to safely re-open and resume more classes and workshops.

After a challenging year, we definitely need a steady and predictable source of funding to fuel our many programs and studio upgrades. We invite you to bring stability to the studio by supporting our new Sustainability Fund by giving a monthly recurring donation. In light of Spudnik’s 14th birthday celebration, we suggest $14 a month, but any amount makes a difference. And it’s super easy to set up!

Our goal is to welcome 25+ sustaining donors by the end of our birthday campaign so we hope you can share this cause with your friends and family. Thank you so much for your support!