Printer Training Program
Tamarind Education
Printer Training Program
The Professional Printer Training Program (PTP) is an intense, highly focused two-semester certificate program. The training is devoted to the full-time study of the theory and chemistry of lithography, the improvement of technical skills, and the development of collaborative printing abilities. In addition to work in the printshop, students also take courses in the history of printmaking and the intricacies of running a printshop and business in the current art market. This program runs from August through May and demands in excess of 60-70 hours per week. Students are not allowed to make outside commitments such as employment or enrollment in other academic courses.
Application Form & Requirements >
Courses
Fall
The Professional Workshop addresses a variety of business-related topics and covers the practical operation of the lithography workshop with special emphasis on administration, marketing, and legal considerations. Requirements include assigned weekly readings, class presentations, a major paper that addresses a plan for establishing and operating a professional workshop and, for those taking the class for graduate credit, a significant research paper. Guest speakers with knowledge of relevant topics are invited to the group discussions as well as Tamarind staff members.
Spring
The Collaborative Lithography Course simulates the professional artist-printer relationship in the collaborative printmaking workshop. Students will be expected to explore their ideas and develop imagery in the context of the unique possibilities of the medium of lithography. Artist participants, selected from all art studio disciplines on the basis of an interview and portfolio reviews, will collaborate with student printers at Tamarind. No technical knowledge of lithography is necessary for the artist, but a significant time commitment outside of class meetings is required. Artists will work in close cooperation with different Tamarind printers on a number of projects, which will be printed in small editions. Printers will also be paired with a paying professional to collaborate in a team to produce two editions. Printers are held to the highest standard of printing and collaboration as reflected in Tamarind’s history.
The History of Graphic Arts II covers in depth the history of the print medium from its inception up until the current time. Innovations in the medium, its usage as a commercial form of information dissemination, its transition into a form of art with its own style and personality, and its current role in the art world are all discussed. Students will gain an understanding of the medium that will further their ability to create new prints that speak to and draw from the richness of printmaking’s past. Lectures, visits to the museum’s excellent print archives, demonstrations, and a critical research paper are all part of this course.
Costs
Students in the Printer Training Program are enrolled part-time in the University of New Mexico. Current tuition and fees for the University and Tamarind are estimated to total $8800 USD. Transportation, housing, and meals are not included. International students participating in the program can expect to prove $27000 USD (covering both tuition and living expenses) in available funds in order to secure the appropriate VISA (if required), to study in the United States. Financial aid is available through Tamarind Institute, but not usually through normal university channels.
Costs for participation in the Printer Training Program will include University of New Mexico tuition for two semesters, plus living expenses. The University extends in-state tuition and non-degree seeking rates to Tamarind students. For the first semester only, Tamarind collects a workshop fee of $2000 for expendable materials (payable directly to Tamarind by July 1). Additional drawing and printing supplies will cost students approximately an additional $1000.
International Students
Students who are not United States citizens will be required to obtain a visa. After a student is admitted to Tamarind, The University of New Mexico will initiate the paperwork needed to obtain a visa. All foreign students must prove that they have the equivalent of approximately $27,122.82, the amount necessary to support one person (the amount is greater if family members accompany the student) for the nine-month period of the Tamarind course. Due to the intense demands of the course, outside employment is not allowed. International students are not eligible for federal student loans, but may apply for limited financial assistance from Tamarind Institute.
How to Apply
Download the Printer Training Application and send application and related materials to:
Tamarind Institute
1 University of New Mexico
MSC04 2540
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
Or, applicants may e-mail materials to tamarindeducation@unm.edu.
Student Impression Videos
Hear from Tamarind students about the training program.