Public Programs & Communications Intern (Wilson Ctr. Funded) Printed Matter, Inc.

Employer Name: Printed Matter, Inc.

Internship Role: Public Programs & Communications Intern

Compensation: $19.00/hour

Employer Website: https://www.printedmatter.org/

Duration of Internship: 280 hour commitment (Full-time, 35 hrs/week for 8 weeks)

Eligibility: This Wilson Center funded opportunity is open to all registered Pace students (undergraduate, graduate and international students) that are graduating in Dec. 2025 OR later.

Address: 231 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Modality:  On-site

About the Employer:  Founded in 1976, Printed Matter, Inc. is the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books and related publications. The term “artists’ books” refers to publications that have been conceived as artworks in their own right. These “projects for the page” are generally inexpensive, often produced in large or open editions, and are democratically available. First established in Tribeca by a group of individuals working in the arts (among them artist Sol LeWitt and critic Lucy Lippard), Printed Matter was developed in response to the growing interest in the medium. 

In line with its mission, Printed Matter offers free public programming—including exhibitions, workshops, and events—in its Chelsea brick-and-mortar bookstore and
project space. Programs seek to provide a platform for both established and emerging artists, and encourage ambitious dialogue around the artists’ book medium and experimental publishing practices. Expanding its audience and reach, Printed Matter founded the NY and LA Art Book Fairs (in 2006 and 2013 respectively), which have
become the world’s largest venues for the distribution, investigation and celebration of artists’ books and art publishing, hosting more than 300 publishers per fair and
thousands of visitors.

Position Overview: The Printed Matter Public Programming & Communications Intern—a recurring internship at the organization—will work closely with our Programming Manager and Programming Coordinator to assist with the research and development of two forthcoming exhibitions, the promotion of critical organizational programs such as our Publisher Grants, and outreach for Printed Matter publications. Alongside our Communications staff, the intern will support the nonprofit’s communications and storytelling efforts, assisting with the creation of external-facing materials, social media, and copyediting. Interns will gain experience with curatorial and archival research, be exposed to curatorial practice and arts publishing, and assist with communicating our programs and activities to a wide public. The role also seeks to provide professional mentorship opportunities and a holistic understanding of arts nonprofit work through cohort-wide career chats with staff leadership, resume and cover letter workshops, and regular goal-setting surveys and check-ins between the intern and their supervisors.

Responsibilities Include but are not limited to: 

• Support with exhibition preparation for a fall archival show, featuring a body of print publications and ephemeral materials published in the 1960s and 70s by queer activist groups. Duties include assistance with bibliographic work and promotion.
• Promotion of Printed Matter and Wagner Foundation’s Publisher Work Grant—which provides unrestricted grants of $10,000 to three independent artists’ book
  publishers to enable future book projects and publisher sustainability—in advance of the open application period.
• Promotion and outreach around Printed Matter’s summer exhibition, featuring small press publications, zines, ephemera, and early design projects of an English artist,
  graphic designer, and musician.
• Support with Wholesale and press list development and outreach for forthcoming Printed Matter publications.
• Support with design on web graphics around Printed Matter projects and programs, as able.
• Support with copyediting, design, and compilation of Printed Matter newsletters.
• Support with development of new social media guidelines and design templates
   

Preferred Skills: 

• Strong writing and research skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to organize materials or data.
• Experience with copyediting materials.
• Experience with Google Suite.
• Background in art history, publishing, or contemporary art a plus.
• Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite a plus.
• Experience working with archival material a plus.

The Ideal Candidates is: 

• Curious about contemporary art, curation, arts publishing, or the field of artists' books.
• Invested in community-informed and socially-engaged projects.
• Invested in supporting artists and small publishers.
• Excited to learn about day-to-day operations in an arts nonprofit.
• Collaborative, creative, and invested in working alongside a close-knit team.

**This internship is funded by the Helene & Grant Wilson Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Pace University, the intern hired for this position will make a full-time commitment for 8 weeks, working no more than 35 hours each week, a total of 280 hours*