The Portfolio Program

Formerly known as the Certificate Program, the Portfolio Program is a yearlong course of study that combines creative writing workshops with hands-on experience in the IPRC’s print studios. Working in small cohorts over the course of three terms, students create a portfolio of creative writing, 1-3 broadsides, print ephemera, book forms, zines, and art books. To showcase works in progress, students are invited to share during quarterly readings & open studios.

Applications for the 2023/24 Portfolio Program will open in the late spring.

Why You Should Do It

The Portfolio Program is for anyone looking to commit to or develop a sustained creative practice, while building community. Initially designed as a low cost alternative to MFA programs, the aims of the Program are to:

  • prioritize creative process & inquiry
  • empower writers & artists with hands-on experience and skillbuilding
  • equip students with the knowledge to confidently explore the IPRC’s studio resources
  • emphasize student-driven outcomes

and

  • foster creative community

The program includes two years of Studio Membership to the IPRC and classes take place in the IPRC’s historic zine library or print studio. 

We strive to make our workshops student-centered and discussion-based, with curriculum attuned to contemporary discourse in the literary and independent publishing communities. We commit to equity and inclusion as central motivators for our work, and view social justice as inseparable from creative expression. The values of the Certificate Program are deeply informed by the IPRC’s Mission & Equity Statements.

Program Costs & FAQs

+ What does the Portfolio Program cost? Are there options for scholarships or payment plans?

The cost for each term is $875, or $2,625 per year. The IPRC strives to make programs financially accessible by providing sliding scale and no-cost spots. For the 2023 / 2024 Program the IPRC is able to offer one full scholarship and two partial scholarships per track. BIPOC prioritized for sliding scale and no-cost positions. Payment plans are also available. 

+ Are there work-trade requirements? 

While there are volunteer opportunities for students to gain more experience in a number of areas, the IPRC does not attach transactional work-trade requirements to “scholarships”. Volunteer opportunities include event coordination, type redistribution, and production assistance.