School Programs

It’s never too early to spark
an interest in photography.

The Light Factory offers programming to schools throughout the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area. Our photography workshops and residencies are engaging, innovative, and hands-on. We can send guest artists into your classroom or provide onsite gallery tours and darkroom experiences. In fact, we love it when educators bring their students into our nationally recognized gallery to see the power of photography and film firsthand. These onsite field trips can also include a demonstration or a hands-on activity. (Spoiler alert: students typically love these demonstrations and activities.)

Below is a listing of our workshops and residencies. All programs are carefully developed to meet the goals of the Common Core and the North Carolina State Standards.

Our school programs include residencies, workshops, personalized gallery and darkroom tours, digital photography, and literacy workshops.

Gallery and TLF Tour: Grades k-12 

Tour of Gallery with a short talk about the work, Tour of Darkroom, Lighting Studio with Demo. We will guide them through our newest exhibition with informative discussions, and an introduction to the career of a photographic artist.

Nature and Art Cyanotypes: Grades k-12 

This program uses plant specimens the group will discuss and describe the materials. The plant specimens will then be used as the subject in Cyanotype. The Cyanotype is one of the earliest forms of photography, which uses only light-sensitive paper (or fabric) and sunlight. Students will receive a fun, hands-on approach to understanding light by creating their own individual sun print or cyanotype.

Photography for Social Justice: Grades 6-12 

The power of images can be fully realized with this photographic program. Students will be encouraged to document family, build community, promote peace and acceptance, think creatively, speak their minds, and build confidence. This program allows students the opportunities to continue their photographic journeys at home and in their own life outside of school, ultimately realizing a very personal and powerful viewpoint.

Studio: Learning Light, Grades 6-12

Students will have the ability to work in rotation to capture images in four different lighting situations. They will explore the capabilities of lighting production in a technical way. Looking at and engaging in the Studio will help students understand lighting in theater productions, movies, and tv shows they see on regular bases. These activities are designed to build an understanding of large production-scale productions.

Black and White Darkroom: Cameraless Photography, Grades k-12

In the darkroom experience, each student will learn how to make Watergrams and chemigrams. They will learn the magic of watching a print emerge from the developer tray with a fun and experimental approach. It’s a mesmerizing process. Students are encouraged to step outside of the norm.

The Urban Landscape: Photo Walk, Grades 6-12

Students will be paired up to use a DSLR camera as they walk through uptown Charlotte. They will interact with the environment with a visual scavenger hunt. The visual scavenger hunt has the students photograph different architectural, street photography, lighting, and composition elements. The students will experience the busy cityscape in a thoughtful and creative way.

Look at Me: Self Portraits, Grades 6-12

Students will use the power of image to empower and express themselves. We will share the art of strong photographic composition, and guide your students through brainstorming sessions and help them create strong, concept-based self-portraits.

 

(+) We require chaperones to be present, and they are always welcome free of charge. All programs can be on-site at The Light Factory or they can be done at your school. The Light Factory can accommodate larger groups by rotating the students through different experiences. We can also customize to allow for a photo walk as an alternative to the darkroom experience.