2D Studio Coordinator (Photography, Letterpress & Print)

Make lives meaningful through making.

Who We Are

Penland School of Craft is an international center for craft education offering residential workshops, residencies, community education programs, and exhibitions. Located on 420 acres in the NC Mountains, Penland has 16 teaching studios and 60 historic and contemporary buildings. We are an equal-opportunity employer with a staff of 50+. Penland operates with a $54 million endowment and an annual operating budget of $8.4 million. We are located about an hour northeast of Asheville, NC. 

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Penland School of Craft, we believe that fostering a climate of equity, inclusion, diversity, and antiracism are essential to our work. We are committed to creating a campus community free of discrimination, and we welcome everyone who supports this commitment. 

Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, and other people who identify as people of color or BIPOC individuals are encouraged to apply, as are people holding other marginalized identities related to gender, sexual orientation, ability, and class background.

 

Concentration: Printmaking, Letterpress, Photography

Reports to:  Studio Operations Manager

Department: Programs

Employment Status: Full-time (35 hours weekly with flex up to 40 hours over the summer months)

Supervision: temporary support staff

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Start date: May 18, 2026

Last Updated:  March 4, 2026

Position Summary

The 2D Studio Coordinators report directly to the studio operations manager and provide specialized oversight for up to three of the 2D Studios on the Penland campus. 2D studios comprise six distinct studios: Books, Drawing & Painting, Letterpress, Papermaking, Photography, and Print. The 2D studio coordinators each have direct oversight of three of these studios, but work collaboratively on any overlapping needs.  This 2D position specifically will work with the Printmaking, Letterpress, and Photography studios.

The 2D coordinators work directly with the studio team and collaboratively across the organization to support all programming and studio use throughout the year. Studio coordinators maintain studio equipment, support budget planning and tracking, inventory management, and purchasing for materials, tools, and equipment related to their assigned studios. They also communicate and facilitate safety guidelines and practices. Information on studio facilities and equipment can be found on Penland’s Letterpress, Printmaking, and Photography webpages.

This is a technical, administrative, and services-oriented position. 

 

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage studio spaces, equipment, and materials for all programming, including workshops, residencies, demonstrations, staff use, and special events.
• Provide technical assistance and training to instructors, students, and staff on safe equipment operation and materials handling.
• Prepare studios for programming, including configuring space, ensuring tools and equipment are in good working order, and ordering or stocking supplies.
• Coordinate workflow during programming changeovers, including onboarding and task assignment for studio assistants.
• Train and supervise studio assistants, establishing safety standards, operational procedures, and guidelines for equipment and materials.
• Collaborate with the Studio Operations Manager to prepare operating budgets and capital project proposals; monitor expenditures, inventory, and maintenance.
• Support curriculum planning by advising on course topics, enrollment capacity, and studio logistics.
• Maintain hazardous waste disposal, materials storage, and safety systems in collaboration with the studio team and facilities staff.
• Serve as an engaged member of the studio team, upholding consistency of safety and administrative policies.
• Perform additional duties as required.

 

Qualifications

• At least 2-3 years of relevant professional experience in a public or teaching studio; or equivalent combination of educational and professional experience
• In-depth knowledge of the equipment and technical processes to be used in the studios, a general understanding of the field of craft, and the ability to troubleshoot and repair, or facilitate serv