Today we’d like to introduce you to Los Angeles Center of Photography. Their team shares their story with us below:
The Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP) was established in October 2013 and obtained non-profit status in August 2014. The organization was originally called “The Julia Dean Photo Workshops” (JDPW), which was created and founded in 1999 by Julia Dean, LACP’s executive director.
JDPW was originally in Venice Beach, but after about ten years, the organization moved to a bigger space in Hollywood. In 2019, LACP moved back West to a large space in Culver City with classrooms, a digital lab, a large gallery, a library and a darkroom. The space was closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic and has just reopened. However, LACP held classes, talks, exhibitions and events online for the past year and has actually increased the number of events and opportunities for Members. Now that we are open again, we will continue to host online events and workshops alongside in-person events.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with all non-profits, there have been struggles along the way. Becoming a non-profit was a vital move as it enabled us to apply for grants and initiate a Membership program, which helped us to cultivate stronger ties with our community. Members are provided many benefits including discounts on classes, free events (artist talks, notable guest presentations, book discussions), and exclusive access to exhibit work in various Los Angeles art fairs. We provide annual and monthly Membership plans with discounted rates for veterans, students & educators, and those residing outside of California. As the organization expanded and became larger, we experience typical growing pains, such as moving into bigger facilities, programming more exhibitions, events, and workshops, and teaching free photo classes to underserved kids through ten different Boys & Girls Clubs in Los Angeles County. The pandemic was obviously a big challenge, but we managed to move online and were up and running within a month. All in all, we have survived 22 years and are now the largest photo center in Southern California.
What else should we know?
Our mission has always been to build a community of dedicated photographers and to strengthen the importance of photography as an art form by providing education, events, exhibitions, portfolio reviews, and public programs. We specialize in teaching photography and offering classes to those just starting out in photography, as well to those wanting to take Master Classes with world-renowned photographers. We also offer artist talks, weekly webinars, exhibition opportunities, and a week dedicated to Street Photography (Street Week in LA) and a weekend of portfolio reviews (Exposure Weekend) where photographers meet with museum curators, gallery owners, book publishers, etc.
We are proud that we have been able to serve the photo community for 22 years, as so many photo centers around the country have closed, and that we have such a diverse and inspiring body of students, members, and teachers who come from diverse backgrounds. We are also proud of the fact that many of our students have gone on to have significant museum or gallery exhibitions, books published and have continued to have thriving careers in photography.
Due to the pandemic and moving online, we have now moved into a national and even international arena, as our students can take classes or attend events from anywhere in the world.
As far as what sets us apart, with the closing of the Annenberg and so many galleries, we are the last non-profit photo center left in LA where you can see an exhibition, take a class, hear a lecture from a world-famous photographer and meet like-minded artists.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Lenscratch blog was created by one of our longtime instructors Aline Smithson and is an excellent place to learn about contemporary photography. It also provides a host of resources for photographers. – http://www.lenscratch.com
The Candid Frame podcast is hosted by another LACP instructor, Ibarionex Perello and it is a wonderful place to hear more about the lives and work of photographers from all over the world and at different stages of their careers https://www.ibarionex.net/thecandidframe
One of our Members, Michael Rababy, created a beautiful book called “California Love: A Visual Mixtape.” It is a compilation of a huge number of California photographers, many of whom are LACP Instructors and Members. It is available here – https://lacp.bigcartel.com/product/california-love-a-viual-mixtape
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://lacphoto.org/
- Instagram: @la_centerofphoto
- Facebook: @losangelescenterofphotography
- Twitter: @lacenterofphoto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTnRrv4zw8wXjedKeqjPLqg
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/los-angeles-center-of-photography-los-angeles
Image Credits:
Main Photo of LACP ©Jock MacDonald, Other photos by ©Amy Tierney/Thrive Images, ©Sylvia Patton, ©Michael Gordon, ©Safi Alia Shabaik, ©Julia Dean, ©Debe Arlook
