Come spend two weeks in rural Vermont, immersed in the daily hands-on work of our printshop and press!

Interested in performing and puppetry? See the theatre apprenticeships here.

Location: Glover, Vermont, USA
Duration: 2 weeks—Apprentices are expected to participate for the full two weeks. All Apprenticeships start on a Tuesday (arrival day) and end on a Sunday (departure day).

2026 Dates:

1. June 2 - 15
2. July 21 - August 3
3. September 8 - 21

Printers, artists, dreamers, painters, makers of all kinds, and curious minds are invited to work with us!

Graphic images—chiseled into masonite, printed, and painted on cloth and paper—have been an integral part of Bread & Puppet Theater’s work since the early 1960s. Peter Schumann, Bread & Puppet’s co-founder, director, and artist, created and continues to create the images and texts of nearly all our publications and posters. Our emphasis is on the utilitarian uses of art: celebration, decoration, information, argumentation, rumination—and puppetry! Bread and Puppet Theater is one of the oldest self-sustaining theater companies in the United States. We choose not to accept government funding. Our apprenticeship program is one of the ways the theater is able to continue its work.

Program Structure

The apprenticeship program is focused on active participation in the ongoing work of the Bread & Puppet Press, not a structured syllabus. We are not a school and do not offer classes in printmaking; instead, apprentices will develop printing skills by participating in daily production. You will also have access to our spaces for your own work during certain hours and off days. None of us are formally trained printmakers;. we’ve learned by doing and are excited to offer the same experience to you! 

The apprenticeship is an immersive, often intense, communal living and working experience. To be a B&P apprentice is to be “thrown into” the ongoing life and productions of the community and to learn by engaging with this often chaotic but highly structured environment. Apprentices must be self-motivated and adaptable. There may be theater apprentices on the farm at the same time, making for a fun and lively experience.

What to Expect

Apprentices will engage in different aspects of Bread and Puppet Press production, which may include:

• Printing masonite cuts
• Painting banners and posters
• Setting type and printing on our Vandercook SP-20
• Special projects preparing for summer exhibitions, such as printing circus flags and banners
• Occasional help with running our field and museum stores on show days
• A museum tour full of B&P/downtown NYC art scene/1960’s protest movement history
• A talk on the history of Cheap Art  
• Masonite carving demonstration by Peter (as his schedule allows)
• Free time in the evenings to work on your own Cheap Art projects (or to swim, hang-out, read, explore)
• An optional showcase of the art you make/work on at the end of your stay

Food and daily life

All meals are included and prepared by the Bread & Puppet cooks, with collective help, except on Mondays, our weekly day off. On Mondays, apprentices are responsible for their own meals. Dietary allergies and needs will be accommodated, there will be space for this conversation once accepted. Everyone, including press apprentices, participates in food preparation and cleanup. We use outhouses, conserve water, compost leftovers, and generally try to be thrifty.

We are committed to making Bread & Puppet a space of thriving and belonging for all.

Costs

This year, we are introducing tiered pricing. The goal is to make the apprenticeship accessible to all while maintaining equity and sustainability. Apprentices select the tier that best reflects what they are able to afford. We will ask for your requested tier pricing once accepted.

Tier 1 - $700 (limited availability)
Tuition assistance: I really want to come, but paying the full tuition for this apprenticeship would be a significant financial hardship.

Tier 2 - $950
Tuition Assistance: I’m super excited to attend, but paying full price would be a stretch for me financially.

Tier 3 - $1,100
Full Tuition: I am psyched to come and I can make it work financially.

Tier 4 - $1,300
Your Tuition & Help Another: Woohoo! Can’t wait to be there. I can afford this level, and am glad to help support someone with fewer resources.

Tier 5 - $1,500
Your Tuition & Help Another more: I’d love to join and am able to contribute extra to help keep this program accessible.

Tier 6 - $2000
I love B&P Press, want to spend a couple weeks making art with you all, and am happy to help sustain this work.

ALL applicants will be considered regardless of their ability to pay.

A Note for College Students:
Talk to your professors about potential college grant funding to help cover your apprenticeship fees. Many colleges have funds earmarked for students participating in summer apprenticeships. It may also be possible for students to receive college credit for completing the Bread & Puppet apprenticeship.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Solveig: solveig@breadandpuppetpress.org.

What these costs cover:

• Materials
• Time spent teaching and guiding out of our normal production schedule
• Food and prepared meals
  

Accommodations

The accommodations are simple, even rugged. Apprentices camp, use outhouses, and have limited access to running water. It can be wet and chilly even in June—so come prepared to rough it! If you require different accommodations, please let us know.  Alternative housing options are very limited but we’ll do our best to talk it through.

Requirements

• Apprentices must be 18 or older
• Dogs, drugs, and underage drinking are not permitted

Who should apply? 

Why, you of course! We are looking for a wide range of people that are interested in political art making, not polished portfolios. We are not seeking highly experienced printmakers or fine artists. Bread & Puppet is a homemade operation, and we hope our “good enough” mindset rubs off on you. We are looking for kind and curious people that are looking to come to this odd place and bring bits of it home with you, no matter your skill level.

Application Instructions

LETTERS OF INTEREST --HARD COPY OR EMAIL-- MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MARCH 1, 2026

At the top of your letter, please clearly include:

• Name
• Age
• Email address
• Where you are living
• Preferred session(s), if any
• If you have previously applied
• If you are also applying to the Theater apprenticeship

All communication after the initial letter will be via email. We will send an email confirmation that we received your application. Please make sure your email is legible.

In about 500 words, please tell us why you are drawn to the Bread & Puppet Press apprenticeship. This is a chance for us to get to know you. What experiences, interests, talents, or life paths make you a good fit? You may include a couple of pieces of artwork if you wish, but just sending a letter is fine. A resume is not required, but if you really want to include one, you may.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Submit applications to:

Bread and Puppet Press Apprenticeship
Solveig Schumann
753 Heights Rd
Glover, VT 05839 

Or

Emailed to:

solveig@breadandpuppetpress.org

Thank you! We look forward to reading all your applications.