The Weston Collective is where art, science, math, and technology meet through learning photography. Founded in 2004, the Weston Collective (TWC) – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Monterey County – teaches and exhibits photography and expands students’ analytic and creative thinking by putting cameras into their hands. TWC teaches elementary through high school photography classes, holds the annual Weston Scholarship, offers classes and open darkroom hours to adults, and hosts exhibitions and artist-in-residency programs. TWC is committed to teaching analog (film) and digital photography to students on the Central Coast of California (primarily Monterey County), regardless of age, disabilities, socioeconomics, demographics, race, or sexual identification.
The Darkroom
The Weston Collective's Satellite Program at MLKSOA in Seaside, California offers the community a unique opportunity to practice traditional black and white film photography. The darkroom consists of 7 enlargers, two eight foot sinks, stocked chemistry, and drying racks. There is an additional developing room that is separate from the darkroom enabling the ability of printing and developing to occur simultaneously.
The Scholarship
The Weston Scholarship is a portfolio competition consisting of a submission of ten hand-printed black and white film photographs which are evaluated by our trusted judges. Since the scholarship was founded in 2004, over $130,000 have been awarded to photography students attending high school or community college in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties.
The Youth
We uphold our organization's mission by engaging and mentoring the youth of our community through the arts. By establishing in-class and after school programs, we have the ability to provide a fun, safe, and creative environment for students to learn photography. We are thrilled to have such a space to work with students and show them the unlimited potential that photography has to offer.
“Through this photographic eye you will be able to look out on a new light-world, a world for the most part uncharted and unexplored, a world that lies waiting to be discovered and revealed.”
| COMMUNITY DARKROOM |
