Annie and Cecelia cutting a print

Our Lab Assistant Program offers individuals a free education on the technical aspects of digital printmaking and the administrative aspects of running an art not-for-profit in exchange for a commitment of 4-8 hours a week for 6-18 months. LATITUDE provides real world experience working in a high end production lab, helps build a community outside of a school setting, and offers an affordable way to make work outside of an institution.

Current Lab Assistants

Rob Castilla, Amanda Thomas, Boomer Scripps, Naomi Liechty, Aly Westrin, Aidan Bryant, Eric Bremer, Megan Moore, Nalani Sexton, Penelopi Perez, Leila Khabagnote, Kit Matthews, Yareli Castillo, Teri Carson, Allexis Aliaga, Cecilia Zhang, Clay Mills

About Our Lab Assistant program

Kit trimming a print on the trimmer

Image Credit: Allexis Aliaga

Lab Setting:

This is an in-person volunteer position on the second floor of 2003 West Fulton street with overhead lights and ventilation. The location is accessible to the Damen street bus and the future Damen green line stop. Street parking is available. The building has a ramp at the entrance and elevator at the front entrance. It is a job that can be completed at a desktop computer sitting at one of our ADA accessible work desks. Workstations at Latitude are Mac computers with Adobe products that can have 1 or 2 monitors. Depending on the volunteer’s comfortability, there can be a mask requirement. Lab assistants are occasionally asked to lift paper that can range in 5-20lbs.

Environmental conditions include a temperature and humidity controlled environment. Social conditions include working with staff, residents, and the public.

Lab Assistants are trained to be proficient in the following areas:

  • Printing, editing, and file management in Adobe Photoshop

  • Scanning on Epson V850s, Kodak Creo flatbed, Imacon 848, Scanmate 4000 and Scanmate 11000

  • Ins and outs of paper and other inkjet-printable materials

  • Trello, Quickbooks Online, and Google Suite

    • Adobe Suite including Bridge, Lightroom, and Photoshop

    • Mural Printing on Epson and Canon printers

    • Piezography Printing

    • Color Managed Workflows and Color Calibration

    • Drum Scanning and Negative Inversion

    • Print Handling, trimming, and packaging

    • Overhead (Camera) Scanning

Equipment you will get trained on:

Epson 4900, Epson Sure-Color P-9000, Epson 9900 Piezo, Canon ImagePROGRAF Pro- 4000, Epson V850, Scanmate 11000 Drum Scanner, Scanmate 4000 Drum Scanner, Overhead Scanner 

Lab Assistant Benefits Include:

  • Free Day Rate

  • Free Ink charges.

  •  Paper and other supplies at cost (includes drums for drum scanning)

  • Personalized training with LATITUDE staff when possible.

  • Free film processing (only during time as a volunteer).

  • Film purchasing At Cost

  • 50% off Minilab scanning when possible (only during time as a volunteer).

  •  Access to a drawer at the lab (only during time as a volunteer, when available ). 

    Please note that the perks of Lab Assisting extend for as long as a volunteer is onsite times two (volunteering for 6 months grants 1 year of access).

How to Apply?

Applications are biannual (in May and November) and are due by the end of their respective months.

Applications for the Winter session are now closed

Application Instructions

We encourage everyone who is interested in production, education, and experimentation with our technology to apply. No prior printing experience, art education, or media specificity are required. This volunteer opportunity is forward-facing and will engage with customer service.

Applicants ages 17 and over should apply. Questions about the Lab Assistant Application and Program can be submitted to education@latitudechicago.org.

Google Form Application includes:

  • Availability for a weekly 4-8 hour shift (the current shifts we are looking to fill can be found on the Google Form )

  • From our Equity Agreement & DIY User Agreement: What is something that stands out to you, OR something that you think should be included that is not?

  • Do you have any previous volunteer experience? If so, please elaborate.

  • Lab Assistants will have hands-on experience with GSuite, Trello, Quickbooks, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, Print Tool, Zapier, and Point of Sale transactions (both cash and credit card). Do you have any experience with these applications or other tools we currently have at the lab? If so, please elaborate.

  • Volunteers at LATITUDE receive free ink, Day Rate, and education for as long as you serve times two. In addition, current lab assistants receive 50% off film processing. 

    How do you plan to utilize these perks? (Naming any specific tools in the previous question's hyperlink is helpful!)

  • Letter of intent (200 words) which should include the following:

    • Why you are interested in becoming a Lab Assistant

    • Your prior experience with printing, scanning, and photo processes

    • What you hope to gain from this experience and how this opportunity could help you to grow

  • Your current resume or CV. (We understand your recent work history may not contain arts administration experience or an understanding of printers, but this helps us get to know you regardless!)

Applications are due December 10th by 12 pm(Noon) CST. Applicants will be notified in December. Those selected can anticipate beginning in January 2025. 

LATITUDE understands the systematic erasure of marginalized voices from photographic and printmaking communities. We believe that it is important to recenter Black and local Indigenous people, people with intersecting identities - LGBTQIA+, women and non-binary people, people living with disabilities, and others with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Former Lab Assistants (2012-2024)

Josef Aguilar, Dana J. Ardell, Matt Austin, Aimée Beaubien, Molly Brandt, Walker Blackwell, Megan Capps, Aric Crafford, Jeanne Donegan, Yubo Dong, Thomson Dryjanski, Shir Ende, Paul Carlo Esposito, Lauren Goldstein, Chelsea Goldberg, Amanda K. Guerra, Ross Haley, Shandi Hass, Laurel Hauge, Maria Hummel, Ayse Idil, Paul Jamrogowicz, Hyun Jung Jun, Rachel Jump, Niko Kapsalis, Jennifer Keats, Kimberly Kim, Sandy King, Stephanie Koch, Krissy Kula, Victor Yañez-Lazcano, Tyler Landes, Samantha Lare, Kate Lerner, Ashley LeTourneau, Ashley Limón, Rudy Lorejo, Jon McJunkin, Marcus McCoy, Eileen Mueller, Justin Nalley, Andrew Nemiroski, Kevin Oronia, Anastasia Page, , Haakon Dash Sheffield, Ashley Singley, Zihui Song, Wade Stofko, Emily Simpson, Stephanie Taiber, Travis Tiblier, Stevie Raelynn, Lauren Zallo, Kanthy Peng, Emily Cai,  Andrew Doak, Adam Biba , Guanyu Xu, Russell McGonagle, Xander Fischer, Timothy Paton Jr.,  Rebekah Dahlia, James Pepper Kelly, Gabe Galloway, Jiaqi Li, Camarri Lane, Caitlin Peterson, Gwen Cinelli, Arturo Lopez, Simon Pyle, Arthur Ortiz, Daniel Delgado, Jory Drew, Ikeadi Ndukwu, Greg Harris, Veronica Gibson, Tara Chambers, Maria Dunaevsky, Mandela Hudson, Esperanza Rosas, Melissa Blackmon, Alissa Godina, Arndís Yr Hansdóttir, Jess Benjamin, Lucas Reif, Sarah Hamburger, Ursula Sokolowska, Yasmin Panjwani, Jessica Pierotti, Allison Parssi, Madison Smith, Ariel A. Acevedo, Ayesha Riaz, Darby Clarke, Jacob King, Jon Ramirez, Max Braverman, Rebecca Ganellen, Roberto Nieves, Sam Schmieg, Sam Sotelo-Avila, Sierra Jackson, June Gudoor, Ash Huse, Alexandria Dravillas, Dominique Shepherd, Diego Rodriguez, Lauren Dacy, Ryan Edmund Thiel, Kyle Dunlap, Madeline Spanier, Mezs Solomon, Adam Schachner, Kianni Aisha Pleasant-Bey, Erin Miller, Liu Liu, Sophie Lopez, Jacob Pesci, Nat Ware, Nico Segall Tobon, Ty Healey, Astro Escudero, Tariyawn Knighten, Bailey Williams, Rachel Schafer, John Alderson, Jose Valle, Austin Johnson, Andy Hilts, Ben Herbert, Lauren Grudzien, David Babayev, Ariella Chavez, Roan Hesse, Daniel Emrich, Alejandra Leon, Holly Fletcher, Allie Duggan, Andre Scherding, Dante Moore, Iris Wu, Kosi Achife, Eleonore Zurawski, Annie Wang, Aldo Polanco, Aidan Piper