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Maker-in-Residence



Meet our Spring Maker-in-Residence, Jay Sullivan!

We are delighted to introduce Jay Sullivan, our Maker-in-Residence for Spring 2026! 

Hone Your Critical Thinking and Communication Skills!

Adaptability, critical thinking, creativity, and interpersonal communication are more important than ever as we enter the age of AI. This is your opportunity to learn how to improve your skills from someone who has coached executives at leading companies across the United States. Jay Sullivan, our Spring Maker in Residence, is a former Managing Partner at Exec|Comm, LLC, a corporate communications firm, where he currently leads the Law Firm Group.

Jay is an award-winning author and columnist and was an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown Law Center and Fordham University School of Law. His book, Simply Said: Communicating Better at Work and Beyond, was released by John Wiley & Sons in 2016, and has since been translated into Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, and Russian. His most recent book, The New Nimble: Leading in the Age of Change, was released by Wiley in October 2023. 


Become Our Next Maker-in-Residence

The Harrison Public Library Maker-in-Residence will work out of the Library for three months (no more than 4 hours per month), working on a project of their choosing. As part of your residency, you will share your skills with the public. We’ll cover the costs of workshop supplies and pay you a stipend of $600 for your time working and teaching. You get unrestricted access to our equipment, an opportunity to learn new skills, public exposure for your work, and a chance to share your talents with your community and all the warm fuzzy feelings that entails. We’re looking for all kinds of making, whether digital or physical. Come and show us how you do it.

Makers selected must be 18 or older, may be subjected to a comprehensive criminal background check, and must have professional references. Applications are accepted and makers are selected on a rolling basis, with appointments made as residencies end.

Application

Thank you for submitting your application. We will be in touch soon.

I would be comfortable working with (choose all that apply):

Harrison Public Library Maker-in-Residence Program Agreement

This is not an offer of employment, and as a “Maker-In-Residence” you will be considered an independent contractor. The maker-in-residence is a contracted position for three months.

The maker-in-residence will receive a one-time payment of $500. The library will provide funding for supplies for public programs.

The maker-in-residence will have up to four hours time per month onsite in the library. The maker-in-residence will be encouraged to work with all of the three groups who use the lab: teens, adults, and families (i.e., all ages).

A portion of our space will be designated for the project being worked on by the artist/maker on display.

All workshops will be made available to the general public, with HPL responsible for participant signup.

These workshops must present attendees with an activity-based, hands-on opportunity to learn a new skill.

The maker-in-residence will be responsible for procuring all necessary consumable supplies for workshops. HPL will reimburse, when agreement is reached, the maker-in-residence for supply costs based on actual detailed receipts. All leftover supplies will become the property of HPL.

Any resulting artwork or product created by the maker-in-residence may be exhibited for a period of one month.

Maker-in-residence is responsible for any travel costs related to maker-in-residence activities.

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