The Loft's Access Fund Pool is open for programming taking place in June 2025 - August 2026.  The Loft's Access Fund model allows you to submit a single online application to join the Pool and learn about Loft programs as they become available. The following programs are eligible for Loft Access Funds:

• Adult and youth education classes and workshops
• Year-Long Writing Project (separate application)

These opportunities are meant to reduce financial barriers to participation in Loft classes and are available to individuals who are experiencing financial hardship and to whom the cost of tuition is a barrier to participation. Once accepted, available seats are emailed out as they become available, about 1-2 times a month. These email alerts will give you access to a list of offerings that are access fund viable. If you are interested in any of these offerings, you will need to follow the given instructions to request a seat in the class. Seats for most offerings are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If a seat is available, you will be given a promo code (applied during checkout) that will provide a 75% or 90% reduction in tuition for a class. The access fund recipient is responsible for the remaining 25% or 10% cost, which will vary depending on the regular price of the class. 

The Loft is committed to equity in our programming by creating opportunities for folks who face barriers to participation in artistic career development. While Loft class access funds are focused on reducing financial barriers, we want to strongly encourage individuals from historically marginalized communities to apply, including, but not limited to, Black and Indigenous people and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, as well as low income individuals.

It is not mandatory to provide proof of financial hardship, but if you would like to provide documentation**, please submit documentation that includes: 1) Your name & address 2) Public assistance program name**  3) A recent date. Then, use your mobile phone's camera, scanner, or good old snail mail to send us your documentation after, or along with your online application below.

More questions? Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). 

**Optional documentation, if provided, should include 1) Your name & address 2) Public assistance program name**  3) A recent date. Then, use your mobile phone's camera, scanner, or good old snail mail to send us your documentation after, or along with your online application. 

Examples of Accepted Public Assistance Programs:

• TANF
• MFIP
• General Assistance
• WIC
• Medicaid,  Medical Assistance, or Minnesota Care
• SSI (Disability, Not Retirement)
• Food Stamps
• Unemployment
• Section 8 Housing
• Free or Reduced Price School Meals

Thanks for your interest in volunteering with the Loft! Volunteers work closely with staff, author/personalities, and the literary community to execute Loft programming and events. The Loft primarily seeks volunteers interested in helping with literary events and occasional administrative projects. Please complete this form to tell us about yourself and what activities you'd be most interested in supporting as a volunteer. 

Thank you for your interest in teaching with the Loft! This proposal form is accepting applications on a rolling basis while this project is live.

For top consideration for Fall 2026 classes, please submit by May 30, 2026. 

On our website, we have resources and FAQs to assist you in submitting proposals. Before contacting Education Manager Jack Harris (jharris@loft.org) with questions, please review the following:

• Reference Guide for Teaching Artists
• Inclusion, Equity, and Antiracism
• Loft Code of Conduct
• Submittable Guide

We offer optional office hours for proposal-related questions or application feedback to answer any questions. RSVP here for an upcoming teaching artist information session. Email edu@loft.org with any questions about the proposal process.

Loft’s Mission & Vision

The Loft advances the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, to create and celebrate connections, and to build just, life-sustaining communities.

We envision a world where the power of the word liberates minds, deepens relationships, and inspires movements for people and planet. As an antiracist organization, the Loft develops literary experiences for writers, readers, and storytellers because racism dehumanizes people, and poetry and stories deepen our connection to our shared humanity. Recognizing the relationship between race, power, and resources, we prioritize the engagement of BIPOC/marginalized  communities and work for the equitable distribution of our power and resources. The Loft is dedicated to offering classes that are imaginative, multicultural, and responsive. We seek reading lists, class content, and approaches to discussions on craft that are inclusive and diverse, as well as timely, contemporary and accessible (readily available online, not out of print).

Teaching Statement

You must include a strong, considered statement on how your class plan and teaching strategies will align with the Loft’s goal to be equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist in its classrooms and with its programming. Here are some suggested resources—especially if you need help leading and navigating classroom discussions of student work as they relate to these topics:

• How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
• A Good Time for the Truth, edited by Sun Yung Shin
• Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
• Anti-Racism Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom by Felicia Rose Chavez
• Appropriate: A Provocation by Paisley Rekdal

Online Learning Resources:

For an idea of how the Loft continues to build knowledge and capacity on this, please visit Team Dynamics.com and IDIInventory.com National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) ASDICircle.org. These are just a few of the many resources available on creating an inclusive learning environment in your classroom; if you are unsure of how to do this, or don't understand how to articulate how your lesson plan and teaching strategies will create this kind of environment in your classroom, feel free to connect with the Loft's Education Manager before you propose your class - Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org>.

The Loft delivers classes in two formats:

• In-Person Classes take place at Open Book, in downtown Minneapolis, in a Loft classroom space.
• Online/Zoom Classes via Zoom. Multi-week Online/Zoom classes also come with the optional Google Classroom supplement to make materials available to students.

What We're Looking For

Some of the offerings in high demand (or specific offerings we’ve been asked for) are:

• Memoir/personal essay workshops and work-generating classes
• Intermediate & Advanced/workshopping classes in all genres, but especially Poetry
• Playwriting
• Genre writing, but especially romance and horror
• Connecting to nature/earth/feminist power/witch traditions
• Writing accountability groups, book clubs
• Writing for lapsed writers/non-creative writers
• Afro-futurism
• As usual, classes across all genres, skill levels, and lengths

If your class idea is not represented in the above list, please still send it my way. I’m always happy to talk via Zoom or email about what you’d like to teach and how it can fit into our programming and organizational artistic vision.

Strong and flexible lesson plans. Loft classes give writers opportunities to engage with their teaching artist and one another, while also providing instruction on craft, engaging discussion, and in-class writing activities, as well as writing prompts students can work on between class meetings. Teaching artists are encouraged to give their students a syllabus or overview of the class on day one, as that gives them a sense of what to expect.

Single Session Classes. If this is your first time teaching a class with the Loft (or if you haven't taught a class with the Loft in the last five years), please only propose a single, 3-hour or 4-hour class. From there, we will gauge audience interest and can work together to see if a multi-week format is right for your class. Thank you!

Multi-week (4 week, 8 week, or 12 week) genre workshops that focus on craft and readings, generative writing exercises, community-building opportunities, and feedback-based workshops with written and verbal feedback and participation. Core values to emphasize: curiosity and creativity.

Please refer to the Loft’s Teacher Guide to see if your class might be a fit.   

What we are not looking for

We have not had success with classes that feel academic in nature (e.g., assigning academic writing texts, theoretical texts, reading lists that are too long, reading workshops built around classics) or are too niche (e.g., somatic writing, writing in translation). Please get to know our catalog and current offerings to see what we do at loft.org.

Fall Class Proposal Timeline

Fall class proposals accepted April - May.

June - July | Education team selects classes and selection notification begins

July | Fall Registration Opens Online

Early September  - mid December  | Fall Session   

Winter Proposal Timeline

Winter class proposals accepted June - August.

August-October | Education team reviews classes and selection notification begins

November | Winter registration opens online

Winter session: Late January 21 - mid April

Access Funds pool is open and accepts applications on a rolling basis   

Summer Proposal Timeline

Summer class proposals accepted Jan - March.

March - April | Education team reviews classes and selection notification begins

April | Summer registration opens online

Summer session: mid June - late August

Access Funds pool is open and accepts applications on a rolling basis

Thank you for your interest in Bring the Loft to You, the offsite-teaching program of the Loft Literary Center! This proposal form is accepting applications on a rolling basis while this project is live.

For top consideration for the 2026-27 (Sep-Aug) BTLTY season classes, please submit by the end of May 2026. 

On our website, we have resources and FAQs to assist you in submitting proposals. Before contacting Partnerships Manager Cristeta Boarini (cboarini@loft.org) with questions, please review the following:

• The Latest 2025-26 Bring the Loft to You (BTLTY) Catalog
• Reference Guide for Teaching Artists
• Inclusion, Equity, and Antiracism
• Loft Code of Conduct
• Submittable Guide

We offer optional office hours for proposal-related questions or application feedback to answer any questions.  Email partnerships@loft.org with any questions about the proposal process. If you've never taught at the Loft or have questions about teaching with BTLTY, you can schedule a meeting with the Loft Partnerships Manager, Cristeta Boarini (cboarini@loft.org).

Loft’s Mission & Vision

The Loft advances the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, to create and celebrate connections, and to build just, life-sustaining communities.

We envision a world where the power of the word liberates minds, deepens relationships, and inspires movements for people and planet. As an antiracist organization, the Loft develops literary experiences for writers, readers, and storytellers because racism dehumanizes people, and poetry and stories deepen our connection to our shared humanity. Recognizing the relationship between race, power, and resources, we prioritize the engagement of BIPOC/marginalized communities and work for the equitable distribution of our power and resources. The Loft is dedicated to offering classes that are imaginative, multicultural, and responsive. We seek reading lists, class content, and approaches to discussions on craft that are inclusive and diverse, as well as timely, contemporary and accessible (readily available online, not out of print).

Teaching Statement

You must include a strong, considered statement on how your class plan and teaching strategies will align with the Loft’s goal to be equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist in its classrooms and with its programming. Here are some suggested resources—especially if you need help leading and navigating classroom discussions of student work as they relate to these topics:

• How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
• A Good Time for the Truth, edited by Sun Yung Shin
• Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
• Anti-Racism Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom by Felicia Rose Chavez
• Appropriate: A Provocation by Paisley Rekdal

Online Learning Resources:

For an idea of how the Loft continues to build knowledge and capacity on this, please visit Team Dynamics.com and IDIInventory.com National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) ASDICircle.org. These are just a few of the many resources available on creating an inclusive learning environment in your classroom; if you are unsure of how to do this, or don't understand how to articulate how your lesson plan and teaching strategies will create this kind of environment in your classroom, feel free to connect with the Loft's Partnerships Manager before you propose your class — Cristeta Boarini <cboarini@loft.org>.

Bring the Loft to You (BTLTY) delivers classes in two formats:

• In-Person Classes take place at various Loft partners' locations, including workplaces, libraries, schools, nonprofits, and service organizations, both in the Twin Cities metro and farther out with eligible mileage reimbursement.
• Online/Zoom Classes. These links are usually provided by the Loft, though some partners prefer to use their own system. 

What We're Looking For

***We would love to see more poetry classes, classes for elders, speculative fiction and nonfiction, children's literature and young adult!

Strong and flexible lesson plans. Bring the Loft to You classes give writers opportunities to engage with their teaching artist and one another, while also providing instruction on craft, engaging discussion, and in-class writing activities, as well as writing prompts students can work on after or between class meetings.

Single Session Classes. If this is your first time teaching a BTLTY class (or if you haven't taught a class with the Loft in the last five years), please only propose a single, 1.5-hour or 2-hour class, the typical BTLTY class lengths. From there, we will gauge audience interest and can work together to see if a multi-week format is right for your class. Thank you!

Multi-week (2 or 4 week) genre workshops that focus on craft and readings, generative writing exercises, community-building opportunities, and feedback-based workshops with written and verbal feedback and participation. Core values to emphasize: curiosity and creativity.

What we are not looking for

We have not had success with classes that feel academic in nature (e.g., assigning academic writing texts, theoretical texts, reading lists that are too long, reading workshops built around classics) or are too niche (e.g., somatic writing, writing in translation). Please get to know our BTLTY catalog and current offerings to see what we do!

The Loft’s Summer Youth Writing Intensives

Calling all young writers! Join the Loft's Summer Youth Writing Intensives at Open Book for a one-of-a-kind opportunity for campers to immerse themselves in a creative writing community with their peers. Led by published, award-winning writers, each camp fosters creativity, self-expression, and a love of writing. Over the course of four days, campers will work closely with teaching artists across a variety of genres, complete at least one polished piece, and leave with fresh ideas for future work and countless new memories with new friends.

The camp culminates in a public reading where students can share their writing (participation optional). Plus, there’s an opportunity for all Loft Young Writers to contribute to our professionally-produced youth anthology. All experience levels are welcome; we seek campers excited to write and connect with a community of young writers!

Camp Details:

Location: The Loft at Open Book
Ages 10-13: July 21-24, 2026
Ages 14-18: July 28-July 31, 2026
Hours: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (lunch break included)
Note: This is NOT an overnight camp. Campers should bring lunch, a water bottle, and writing materials.

What to Expect:

• Full-day workshops with published teaching artists
• A focus on craft, creativity, and community
• Opportunities for free-writing, rooftop hangs, zine-making, and new friendships
• A professionally published anthology featuring student work
• An Anthology Release Party on December 4, 2026, at Open Book

Admissions Policy:

We accept applications starting in November 2025 on a rolling basis. Prospective campers will need to fill out a short application and submit a short writing sample (no more than 1,000 words) to help us gauge student fit and placement. Campers will hear back within two weeks of applying. If a camp fills, a waitlist will be created, and we’ll notify campers if spots open up. Availability will be updated on our website.

What We’re Looking For:

We welcome campers who:
  ✨ Show a passion for writing
  ✨ Are curious, creative, and eager to explore new ideas
  ✨ Respect peers and teaching artists
  ✨ Come from diverse backgrounds and have varied interests

Whether you’ve written a novel or simply want to try something new, this summer writing intensive is for you! Financial need will not affect acceptance. There is space in the application to apply for Access Funds if tuition is a barrier for you.

Payment & Access Funds:

Camp Cost: $550 (includes a copy of the summer anthology)

Once accepted, payment is required to secure your spot. You can register online, call to pay by phone, or send a check. For cancellations, refer to our cancellation policy.

Access Funds: We offer Access Funds for fully-funded seats for families in need. To request assistance, complete the Access Fund section of the application form. We’ll contact you about aid options upon acceptance.

The Loft’s Young Writers’ Program offers year-round, high-quality, enrichment-based creative writing instruction across genres, to all levels, for kids and teens ages 6-18. Many classes are taught by award-winning, published writers. Loft classes are process based, rather than product based, and seek to support children and teens as they become excited, engaged writers and readers.

The Loft's Young Writers' Program publishes an annual anthology of students' writing in the Loft Young Writers Anthology from youth participants in Loft education programs. Our goal is to provide a safe space for youth to express themselves, regardless of their experience, background, ethnicity, and/or identity, and elevate their voices and unique perspectives.

Eligible students may submit up to 3 double-spaced pages. Work must have been written, started, or revised in a Loft workshop or class between September 2025 to September 2026. Submissions close on September 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Please note that we do not accept any submissions or publish work that contains hateful language, bigotry, homophobia, or violate the Loft's Code of Conduct policy or Strategic Framework. If your work contains any sensitive or difficult topics, please include a content warning with your submission.

This form is for a Youth Class for Fall 2026 and/or Winter Youth 2027. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis while this project is live. Want to get immediate feedback on your class proposal? Email edu@loft.org if you have any question about the proposal process.

On our website, we have resources and FAQs to assist you in submitting proposals. Before contacting Program Manager Jack Harris (jharris@loft.org) with questions, please review the following:

• Reference Guide for Teaching Artists 
• Inclusion, Equity, and Antiracism
• Loft Code of Conduct
• Submittable Guide

The Loft is dedicated to offering classes that are imaginative, multicultural, and responsive. We seek reading lists, class content, and approaches to discussions on craft that are inclusive and diverse, as well as timely, contemporary and accessible (readily available online, not out of print). 

You must include a strong, considered statement on how your class plan and teaching strategies will align with the Loft’s goal to be equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist in its classrooms and with its programming. If you need time to understand what the Loft means by this, or are simply curious for more information, here are some suggested resources—especially if you need help leading and navigating classroom discussions of student work as they relate to these topics:

• How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi 
• A Good Time for the Truth, edited by Sun Yung Shin 
• Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses 
• Anti-Racism Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom by Felicia Rose Chavez
• Appropriate: A Provocation by Paisley Rekdal 

Online Learning Resources:

For an idea of how the Loft continues to build knowledge and capacity on this, please visit Team Dynamics.com and IDIInventory.com National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) and ASDICircle.org. These are just a few of the many resources available on creating an inclusive learning environment in your classroom; if you are unsure of how to do this, or don't understand how to articulate how your lesson plan and teaching strategies will create this kind of environment in your classroom, feel free to connect with the Loft's Program Manager before you propose your class.

In order to teach online, Loft teaching artists must have a reliable and high speed internet connection and a computer, as well as basic knowledge of computer use, Zoom and Google Classroom. The Loft can not provide you with a computer or internet access.   

What We're Looking For:

Reading lists and class content that are inclusive and diverse. Please ensure one perspective is not centered on a monolithic approach to experience and expression. 

Classes across genre. We will note though that as of late, classes in fiction and screenwriting fill quickest. According to our surveys of youth students, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi are our most requested subgenres. 

Strong and flexible lesson plans. Loft classes give young writers opportunities to engage with their teaching artist and one another, while also providing instruction on craft, engaging discussion, and in-class writing activities, as well as writing prompts students can work on between class meetings.  

Special Needs for Fall Youth 2026 and Winter Youth 2027:

Themed youth classes around holidays - Fall/nature writing, Halloween/writing scary stories, winter/snowflakes, etc.

Writing Groups/Creative Writing Workshop classes across age ranges - These classes are meant to build community, provide opportunities to meet and connect other writers, get feedback, get prompts, and share ideas. These are generic, multi-genre, and more “informal” classes with a main goal of connecting young writers with each other.

Saturday, single session programming in-person - This Fall we will be scheduling single session, three-hour classes on Saturdays. These classes will take place in-person at Open Book

Fall Youth Timeline

• Proposal Period: April 1, 2026 - May 23, 2026
• Craft team reviews proposals and schedules classes with teaching artists: May 2026 - June 2026
• Fall Young Writers registration opens: Week of June 16, 2026
• Fall Young Writers season: September 15, 2026 - December 12, 2026
• Young Writers Anthology Release Party: December 3, 2026 in OBPH, 6-7:30 PM   

Winter Youth Timeline

• Proposal Period: August 25 - September 29, 2026: 
• Craft team proposal reviews proposals and schedules classes with teaching artists: October 2026
• Winter Young Writers registration opens: October 29, 2026
• Winter Young Writers season: January 2027 - April 2027   

Compensation 

You’ll be paid $7.00 per student per contact hour based on enrollment for your second class meeting (students may drop the class during the first week). For example, if you are teaching a 6-week class (meeting 2 hours per week for 6 weeks) with an enrollment of 14 students, your compensation will be $1,176. Youth classes are also paid on a flat-fee basis of $50/hr. Minimum enrollment is 4 students, maximum enrollment is 17 students (you are paid for a minimum of 7 students for enrollment-based classes). If this is a flat fee class, you are paid $50/hr.   

Please contact Program Jack Harris (jharris@loft.org) with any questions.

Job Title: Partnerships Program Coordinator

Organization: The Loft Literary Center, Minneapolis (www.loft.org)

Status: FT, non-exempt (hourly)

Reports to: Program Manager, Partnerships

About the Loft: Celebrating 52 years since its incorporation, the Loft Literary Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit literary centers with classes, workshops, mentorships, events, resources and services that advance the power of writers and readers to craft and share stories, to create and celebrate connections, and to build just, life-sustaining communities. Loft staff members enjoy a flexible workplace, health and other benefits, and the company of dedicated and creative colleagues. The Loft is committed to being an actively antiracist organization and the Partnerships Program Coordinator will play a key role in advancing the cultural competence, equity, and accessibility of Loft awards programs and community partnerships. 

Compensation: $28.96/hr (annual equivalent based on 32 hour week = $48,195). Benefits include health insurance (Loft pays 80% of gold-rated plan premium), life insurance, two–four weeks paid vacation annually based on tenure, 11 floating holidays, accrued sick/personal leave, and the opportunity to take one free Loft class per year.

Hours

The position is full-time, hourly (non-exempt). A standard week of 32 hours will include some evenings and/or weekends (primarily Saturdays) as scheduled. Flexibility with hours is a key requirement. Schedules are usually set 4-6 weeks in advance. You are available for a schedule that varies between daytime hours starting as early as 8:00 AM and afternoon/evenings ending as late as 8:30 PM mostly in 8-9 hour shifts, Monday through Saturday.

Position Purpose

This position delivers friendly, helpful, and patient customer service experiences as a first, and often primary, point of contact for Loft constituents including audience members, students, teaching artists, and other stakeholders. The partnerships coordinator solves problems for constituents, shows empathy, and is a cheerleader for the Loft and its programs, promoting participation, and helping people register for classes, apply for awards, and engage in other Loft offerings. The partnerships coordinator ensures that the Loft public, staff, and contractors have accurate and timely information about participation and programs, provides administrative support, and prepares/sets up digital and physical spaces to be safe, neat, comfortable, and functional for their respective purposes. 

Primary Areas of Responsibilities and Tasks

In all areas of accountability for this position, responsiveness, empathy, humor, and a strong commitment to customer service will be needed. You will be a good fit for this position if you enjoy program administration, working with a wide variety of learners, and you share our commitment to antiracism. The list below is representative of the essential duties for the job, but it is not necessarily an all-inclusive list of duties required to perform this role. As a member of the Loft staff, you may be asked to provide support for “all hands on deck” activities or events and to perform other duties as necessary to fulfill the Loft’s mission, vision and strategic objectives.

Primary Accountabilities

1)  Serve as a first point of contact for Partnerships programs such as award applicants, manuscript critique inquiries, and for registration/admission for Bring the Loft to You and Loft off site classes, events, and workshops for adult and youth participants as well as supporting the Education Coordinator with Education programs such as Adult and Youth Education, Year-Long Writing Projects, and Access Funds Field constituent inquiries, advise applicants and potential students, assist with web-based transactions, resolve or refer complaints and concerns, manage communications regarding award or class status, and promote cross program and member involvement. Responds to all in-person, online, or telephone inquiries. Promote membership to applicants and potential students as part of advising and registration assistance. Divides time between Partnership and Education programs about 75% and 25%, respectively.

2)  Provide administrative support for all Loft awards, community-based, and Education programs, including on- and off-site classes, manuscript critique services, conferences, events, and partnership programs such as classes in schools and libraries. Administrative support entails, but is not limited to: data-entry, proof-reading, assigning classrooms, supporting awards panels, monitoring registration/enrollment, student and teaching artist outreach, providing registration lists/rosters to appropriate staff or contractors, ensuring artist contracting and payments are correct, processing refunds, creating and running analytical reports, and assisting in resolving issues related to the above. 

3) Assist the Partnerships Manager with vetting award applications to ensure they are complete and meet the criteria set out in the program guidelines. Assist with the creation of judging materials as needed. Provide additional clerical or logistical support to programs including contract entry, travel arrangements, report reminders and collection, and other duties as requested.

4) Provide set-up and logistical support for partnership and education programs including creating and placing proper signage, light cleaning, moving furniture, addressing artist and constituent needs, trouble-shooting classroom technology, light refreshments set-up, purchasing, setting up and tearing down food and drink for large public-facing events, registration/check out, and assisting with materials/supplies on a daily basis. Serve as a greeter for new sessions and ongoing sessions.

5) Rotate all front desk/reception duties including general in-person, phone, and email inquiries once a week and provide back-up support as needed (during vacations, unexpected personal leave, etc.).

6)  Participate in the Loft Staff, Craft Team, and constituent meetings and represent the concerns or barriers to providing program-related customer service that is both efficient and meets the needs of constituents. Communicate changes to procedures, operations, or information to non-members of the team. This includes developing an understanding of how our systems and processes work together and actively looking for ways to make them work better. 

7) Provide back up support for initiatives that support programmatic and mission success as assigned. Examples include the Year Long Writing Project, Loft Access Funds program, Young Writers programming, the Madeline Island Teaching Artist fellowship, organization and programming of student/teacher readings, off-site program site visits, fundraising event support, and outreach/promotion. These initiatives or special projects can be one-time or ongoing and each has a unique set of responsibilities. 

8) Other duties may be assigned as needed. The list above is representative of the essential responsibilities for the job, but it is not an all-inclusive list of duties required in this role.  In addition, there are times when all staff help with projects outside their regular roles, for example at special events they may assist in house/production/implementation management for Loft events (as requested). Typical duties for events include:

• Determining event requirements in collaboration with designated event lead
• Manage venues/locations for Loft events including scheduling, coordinating, setting up, tearing down, and securing the event space at Open Book and other event locations  
• Creating and placing signage 
• Supervising event volunteers and interns
• Setting up/tearing down the performance hall and literary commons (including receptions)
• Overseeing front of house transactions, securing and documenting receipts per Loft procedure
• Operating production tech including sound and lights and online/hybrid platforms for meetings and events
• Manage the digital event experience including scheduling online events, managing/coordinating hosting on digital platforms, and troubleshooting during online/hybrid events; securing and managing equipment for hybrid events and meetings (as needed)
• Estimating and documenting audience statistics and demographics, including entering them into the Loft database in a timely manner
• Distribution and collection of evaluations or other materials as required
• Supervising or running bar, securing and documenting receipts per Loft procedure
• Locking up and securing Loft spaces including offices, classrooms, etc.
• Recruit, coordinate with, and track exhibitors and vendors (e.g. for book sales, etc.) in support of Loft events and the attainment of related revenue goals 
• Coordinate with Program Administrator as needed to provide “front of house” operations at in-person Loft events including box office management and the coordination of event volunteers and interns 
• Manage travel, hotel, and hospitality needs for programs and events including coordinating and tracking travel information and creating itineraries, info sheets, and schedules for visiting authors, agents, and publishers
• Execute program and event-related mailings and communications 

Job Requirements

• Work or volunteer experience in which you divided your attention between multiple people at once, met a variety of needs and provide high-quality customer service (for example, retail sales, restaurant service, office reception, etc.).
• You speak English with standard grammar, are able to communicate clearly, and write in English with standard grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 
• You know how to prioritize numerous small tasks and large projects on a daily, weekly, and long-term basis.
• You are prepared to have many people wanting your attention at the same time. You acknowledge people in a friendly way, while letting them know when you are going to be able to get to them. 
• You are a detail-focused proofreader of both writing and numbers, and have a high degree of accuracy with data entry.
• You ask for help when needed and aren’t afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out.” Then follow up.
• You identify tasks that need to be completed and take initiative to point them out, do them or suggest solutions.
• You like to learn and are fast to adapt to new software or systems. Technology doesn’t scare you.
• You enjoy both working in teams and working independently.
• You don’t mind a lot of repetitive tasks.
• You respond to impatience and frustration with empathy, kindness, and helpfulness. You don’t easily get mad or defensive. 
• You are comfortable and patient in providing technical support to assist callers, walk-in constituents, and teaching artists. (Examples include navigating Loft website, registration, logging into online classes, working with classroom sound systems or projectors, etc.)
• You have the physical ability to quickly move furniture, as well as lift up to 25 lbs.
• You are proficient with email, word processing, spreadsheets, and data entry, especially with Google Suite.

The ideal candidate will also have: 

• Knowledge of Salesforce or experience working with customer relationship management databases. 
• Knowledge to advise constituents on which classes or events are right for them, spanning creative writing and reading-related topics across all skill levels.
• Enthusiasm for reading and/or writing.
• Keen eye for detail, from grammar to tablesetting to award eligibility requirements.
• Proficiency with Submittable, especially with application review.
• Familiarity with DSLR cameras for event documentation

Working Conditions: This position spends a great deal of time at a computer and on the phone, but also has daily responsibility for moving classroom and performance hall furniture, with some lifting included. 

The ideal candidate is someone who yearns to settle into an interesting workplace with a constant pace and lots of laughter. We seek an even tempered, detail-oriented person who is equally as happy in interpersonal interaction and spending a day at the computer. 

NOTE: Loft employees are not eligible to apply for Loft awards for writers.

To Apply: Please answer the application questions and submit your resume via Submittable. If you do not have a Submittable account, you will need to create one.

Due to the expected number of applicants, we request that you do not call or email to check on your application status. You will get a confirmation by email to let you know that your application was received as well as word of the Loft’s hiring decision.

Hiring Process: This position is open until filled; applications will be reviewed as they come in, but first preference will be given to applications received by June 30. The application period will officially close on July 15. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. This position would ideally start by July 31, 2026. 

The Loft is an equal opportunity employer.