Center for Contemporary Printmaking: A Dedicated Residency for Print Artists

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCP) in Norwalk, Connecticut offers one of the few residency programs in the United States dedicated exclusively to printmaking and print-based art. The centerpiece of the residency is the Helen Frankenthaler Printmaking Cottage—named after the legendary abstract expressionist painter and printmaker—a recently remodeled facility that combines professional printmaking studios with comfortable living quarters, allowing resident artists to live and work in the same space with 24-hour access to equipment.

For printmakers, this kind of dedicated, discipline-specific residency is rare and valuable. While many general residency programs welcome printmakers, few provide the specialized equipment, technical support, and focused environment that serious print-based work requires. The CCP residency fills this gap, offering one-to-two-week residencies that provide everything a printmaker needs to develop ambitious new work, experiment with unfamiliar techniques, or push their existing practice in new directions.

The Helen Frankenthaler Printmaking Cottage

The cottage that serves as the residency's home is named in honor of Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011), one of the most important American artists of the twentieth century. While Frankenthaler is best known for her pioneering contributions to abstract expressionist painting—particularly her "soak-stain" technique—she was also a prolific and innovative printmaker who worked extensively in woodcut, etching, lithography, and screenprint throughout her career. Her printmaking practice demonstrated that print media could achieve the same expressive power and visual complexity as painting, and her legacy provides an inspiring context for the residency that bears her name.

The cottage has been recently remodeled to create an integrated live-work environment specifically designed for printmakers. The ground floor houses the professional printmaking studio, while the upper level provides comfortable living quarters including a bedroom, kitchen facilities, bathroom, living area, WiFi, and laundry. The physical proximity of studio and living space—literally steps apart—eliminates the commuting and logistical friction that can consume valuable creative time during short residencies.

This integration of living and working space is a deliberate design choice. During a one-or-two-week residency, every hour matters. The ability to walk from your bedroom to a fully equipped printmaking studio at any hour—to work late into the night when inspiration strikes, to start printing at dawn, to step away for a meal and return immediately—maximizes the productive creative time available during the residency period.

The Printmaking Facilities

The CCP's printmaking facilities are professionally equipped to support work across the full range of traditional and contemporary print processes. The studio includes:

Etching and intaglio equipment including presses capable of handling large plates, acid baths for etching, and tools for drypoint, aquatint, mezzotint, and other intaglio techniques. Intaglio printmaking requires specialized equipment that is expensive and space-intensive, making access to a well-equipped intaglio studio one of the residency's most valuable offerings.

Relief printing facilities for woodcut, linocut, and wood engraving. The studio provides carving tools, brayers, and presses suitable for both small-scale and large-format relief work.

Lithography equipment including lithographic stones and plates, a lithographic press, and the chemicals and materials needed for stone and plate lithography. Lithography is one of the most technically demanding print processes, and access to proper equipment and workspace is essential for serious lithographic work.

Screen printing setup for artists working in serigraphy, including screens, squeegees, exposure equipment, and the materials needed for both hand-cut and photo-based stencil processes.

Letterpress equipment for artists working at the intersection of printmaking and typography, including type, presses, and the tools needed for letterpress printing.

Digital printmaking capabilities are also available, supporting artists who incorporate digital processes into their print-based practice—whether through digital plate-making, digital output combined with traditional overprinting, or other hybrid approaches.

This breadth of equipment means that printmakers working in virtually any print process can find the tools they need. For artists whose home studios lack specific equipment—a lithographic press, for example, or a large-format etching press—the CCP residency provides access to capabilities that would otherwise require expensive equipment purchases or institutional affiliation.

Technical Support

One of the residency's most valuable features is the availability of technical support from experienced printmakers on the CCP staff. While the residency is self-directed—artists work on their own projects at their own pace—technical assistance is available when needed. This support is particularly valuable for artists experimenting with unfamiliar processes, troubleshooting technical problems, or pushing the boundaries of what a particular print technique can achieve.

The CCP staff includes master printmakers with extensive experience across multiple print processes. Their knowledge of materials, chemistry, press operation, and the subtle technical variables that affect print quality is a resource that can save resident artists significant time and frustration, especially when working with processes that have steep learning curves or narrow margins for error.

The Residency Structure

Residencies are available in one-week and two-week formats, providing flexibility for artists with different project scopes and schedule constraints. A one-week residency is well-suited for focused projects with clear technical goals—editioning a series of prints, experimenting with a specific technique, or completing work for an upcoming exhibition. A two-week residency allows for more exploratory work, including the time needed to test ideas, make mistakes, and develop new approaches.

The residency is entirely self-directed. There are no mandatory activities, critiques, or presentations. Artists set their own schedules and work according to their own creative rhythms. The 24-hour studio access means that work can happen at any time—early morning, late night, or any schedule that suits the artist's process.

The application fee is $35, and residency fees vary by duration and funding availability. Scholarships are available based on artistic merit and financial need, and material stipends may be provided for specific projects that require unusual or expensive materials.

The Location

Norwalk, Connecticut provides a location that balances quiet creative focus with proximity to major cultural centers. The city is approximately one hour from New York City by train, providing easy access to the galleries, museums, and professional networks of the world's largest art market. For printmakers who want to visit exhibitions, meet with dealers or curators, or attend openings during their residency, the proximity to New York is a significant advantage.

The CCP itself is situated within a broader arts community in Norwalk, with galleries, studios, and cultural organizations in the surrounding area. The center hosts exhibitions, workshops, and events throughout the year, and resident artists may have opportunities to engage with the local arts community during their stay.

The Application Process

The CCP accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. The application requires a portfolio of 15-20 images of print-based work, an artist statement describing the applicant's practice and relationship to print media, a project proposal outlining the work the applicant intends to develop during the residency, a resume or CV, and two professional references.

The selection committee evaluates applications based on the quality of the applicant's print-based work, the clarity and ambition of the proposed project, the applicant's potential to benefit from the CCP's specific facilities and resources, and the innovative quality of the applicant's approach to print media. Both emerging and established printmakers are welcome, and the committee values diversity of technique, aesthetic approach, and background.

Who Should Apply

Dedicated printmakers seeking focused time with professional equipment will find the CCP residency ideally suited to their needs. The discipline-specific focus means that every aspect of the residency—facilities, technical support, environment—is optimized for print-based work.

Visual artists incorporating print processes into broader mixed-media or interdisciplinary practices will find the CCP's range of equipment and technical support valuable for developing the print components of their work.

Artists seeking access to equipment they do not have in their home studios—lithographic presses, large-format etching presses, screen printing facilities—can use the CCP residency to produce work that would otherwise be impossible.

Book artists and letterpress practitioners will find dedicated equipment and workspace for their specialized practices.

The Bottom Line

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking residency offers something that very few programs provide: a dedicated, professionally equipped, discipline-specific residency designed exclusively for printmakers and print-based artists. The Helen Frankenthaler Printmaking Cottage's integration of studio and living space, combined with comprehensive equipment across all major print processes, technical support from experienced printmakers, and proximity to New York City, creates an environment where serious print-based work can flourish. For printmakers seeking focused creative time with the tools and support their practice demands, the CCP residency is an exceptional opportunity.