Paid Apprenticeships in Typecasting, Bookbinding and Letterpress Printing
The apprenticeship program is the heart of our press. All of our expert craftspeople are graduates of the program. Our historic bookmaking processes require years of practical application to master; the work requires passion and discipline in equal parts. Apprentices commit to a period of at least two years, wherein they learn their craft through hands-on work. Apprentices also participate in the Grabhorn Institute’s public educational programming.
We rely on our antique equipment, and the people who can operate it, to help us with our mission to preserve these crafts for future generations. We welcome new colleagues who are excited to be a part of a long tradition of printing, book arts, and manufacturing in the Bay Area.
Bindery Apprenticeship
This is a two-year commitment, with opportunities beyond, for learning fine edition bookbinding through on-the-job training from experienced bookbinders. This is not a creative design opportunity, but a chance to learn and diligently employ highly specialized craft skills in the field of bookbinding. No experience is required, but the ideal candidate will have training applicable to mechanical and production experience, and be able to work collaboratively with others. You will be responsible for working within a team to make fine press editions of our publications, for sale to the public. Expected 40hr/wk, on-site, 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday.
We are not accepting applications for the bindery at this time.
Type Foundry Apprenticeship
The type foundry apprenticeship is a two-year commitment to learn typography, typecasting, and Monotype type composition through on-the-job training from experienced typecasters. The casting equipment is very old and complicated; it requires many hours of hands-on training in order to become an independent operator. While the apprenticeship might include occasional opportunities to learn basic letterpress printing skills, the primary focus is in the type foundry. Apprentices learn to set up, operate, monitor, and maintain the intricate typecasting equipment. Tasks include: maintenance and cleaning of hot metal type casting equipment; setting up casters for in-house and customer orders; shipping, receiving, general filing, and cataloguing. This is light industrial work in a metal shop, and the ideal candidate will have mechanical aptitude and be comfortable working around machinery. Type casters wear coveralls and protective footwear, do intensive manual work, frequently move heavy objects around the shop, and execute repetitive tasks that can last from hours to weeks at a time. Occasionally apprentices will be requested to assist with special evening or weekend book promotion or gallery events. Expected 40hr/wk, on-site, 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday.
We are not accepting applications for the type foundry at this time.
Pressroom Apprenticeship
The pressroom apprenticeship is a two-year commitment to learn letterpress printing in a book publishing setting. Apprentices learn to sort and pull metal types using California cases, to compose type line by line for printing, to mix and apply ink, assist with setting up and maintaining presses, examine print quality. Occasionally apprentices will be requested to assist with special evening or weekend book promotion or gallery events. Expected 40hr/wk, on-site, 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday.
We are not accepting applications for the pressroom at this time.