*MAJOR UPDATES*
1) Two long-time dedicated staff members, Abigail Diaz and Jen Anne, have been fired.
2) The Windgate Foundation withdraws their endowment support for Hamilton.
3) Mid America Print Council releases statement of support for print community's call for change.
4) Really Big Prints! Exhibit & archive of prints is withdrawn from Hamilton.
*MAJOR UPDATES* 1) Two long-time dedicated staff members, Abigail Diaz and Jen Anne, have been fired. 2) The Windgate Foundation withdraws their endowment support for Hamilton. 3) Mid America Print Council releases statement of support for print community's call for change. 4) Really Big Prints! Exhibit & archive of prints is withdrawn from Hamilton.
We demand new leadership at the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum
#wearehamfam
The museum faces an unprecedented situation. Board overreach has cancelled programming, rescinded residencies and cancelled exhibits of Black artists and others, and silenced community voices. Attempts to learn the rationale for these decisions were met with non-responses. The letterpress community wants answers.
Please support change at the museum! Whether you've been to the Hamilton Wood Type Museum many times or have not had a chance to visit yet, adding your voice to the call for change matters.
In January 2025, the Executive Board of Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum assumed direct control of day-to-day operations, even as the then-current executive director was present. Since taking over, the Board has imposed harmful leadership decisions.
We call for the resignation of the entire Board and the appointment of new leadership.
The Windgate Foundation also supported this call for change. The Hamilton Board’s refusal to engage with community’s concerns in good faith led to the Windgate withdrawing its substantial endowment.
The David and Reva Logan Foundation continues to provide substantial support for Hamilton, despite the concerns that major stakeholders have brought to light.
What is happening at Hamilton?!
OTHERS ARE SPEAKING UP
Statements of support have come from the College Book Arts Association, SGC International, Moore Wood Type, Partners In Print, and Tribune Showprint.
From the CBAA’s Board of Directors:
”Hamilton’s actions reflect both a betrayal of trust and an abuse of power. The executive leadership must demonstrate real accountability or step aside to make room for renewed trust, inclusive leadership, and shared values.”
From the book arts key note panel for the (now cancelled) 2025 Wayzgoose:
”We have canceled our contributions to this year’s Wayzgoose, including keynote presentations, exhibitions, workshops, and demonstrations. We cannot in good conscience lend our expertise and reputations to an institution that has demonstrated such disregard for the artists and values we champion in our educational work.”
From Moore Wood Type:
We want nothing more than to return to Hamilton one day with our printer family, but before that can happen, big changes need to take place. We remain hopeful that Hamilton can one day become the kind, inclusive, and equitable space our diverse community deserves. In the meantime, we will keep showing up for the printing community however we can.”
Sarah Finn, special collections librarian at the Milwaukee Public Library moderates a discussion panel of letterpress printers Melissa Blount, Jenn Graves, and Desirée Aspiras as they share their experiences with the BIWOC residencies at Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum, and the recent events surrounding the Museum's programming and board that led the artists to create a grassroots campaign for reform and inclusivity.
This event complements The November edition of SGC International’s Graphic Impressions journal which focuses on cancellation and censorship.
The issue also features an interview with book artist and sculptor, IBé Crawley, whose residency was abruptly cancelled by the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum. IBé also guest curates the virtual exhibition of women letterpress printers, Hold the Door: Radical Contemporary Women Printers, many of whom participated in the BIWOC residencies in the past. The exhibition will in part remind the Museum of the outstanding work that comes out of the residencies and the value of the program for the institution. Read more about the BIWOC Residencies here (2023), here (2024) and here (2025).
Click image to watch video
Image by Brad Vetter Design
TAKE ACTION
The cancellation of Ibé Crawley's residency opened our eyes to the Board's destructive actions. Artists, printers, printmakers, designers, and supporters are uniting against this Board’s operational incompetence and demanding new and better leadership.
Our community has built something beautiful over years of hard work. We refuse to let board overreach destroy what we've created together.
There are several ways you can support the call for change at Hamilton. Click on the link below to learn how.
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
REASONS PEOPLE ARE SIGNING THE PETITION
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