Image © Chialing Hsueh
Community Connections
The Power of Partnership
Since 2013, PAC LA has thrived by building connections: between artists and collectors, traditional institutions and innovative newcomers, experts and those eager to learn, and within our vibrant community. We create uniquely engaging experiences entirely through collaboration: producing our signature programs and events for a growing audience of people who love photography, all while directly supporting artists and local organizations.
We’re proud of this heritage, but know we have the potential to do much more. After a full year of research and development, PAC LA is now committed to making community partnership the core of our future.
Introducing PAC LA PARTNERS: Community-led Photography Projects.
A Novel Approach: Communities are in the driver's seat, ensuring projects reflect real needs and make a lasting local impact.
New Audiences: Bringing photography into spaces and places outside of the established arts ecosystem.
Diverse Formats: A project can be anything: if it celebrates photography and lens-based arts in Los Angeles, we’re interested!
Dedicated Support: PAC LA is there to help every step of the way.
Open to All: Any organization, collective, or social entity in greater Los Angeles is eligible to participate.
PARTNERS is the next big step for PAC LA. Collaboration is what we do best, and we can’t wait to create new experiences, together.
PAC LA + Pasadena City College
Second Sight: Photography Festival | The inaugural PAC LA PARTNERS Project
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The Pasadena City College Photography Department inaugurated a student photography contest in 2023.
Sponsored by a private foundation, the contest drew 100 applicants, resulted in 17 cash-prize awards, and culminated in an exhibition that featured work by 45 students.
The impact: enthusiastic response from the PCC community, increased enrollment, more photography certificates awarded, and inspiring student winner success stories.
In 2025 PAC LA stepped in as the new principal sponsor of the Festival, collaborating with the PCC faculty to develop robust educational programming and a free public festival as part of the culmination of the student photography contest.
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A collaboration between PAC LA and PCC to kickstart a new contest for the 2025-2026 academic year.
PCC - Manage and administer the contest with complete creative freedom | Event venue | Community outreach & resources
PAC LA - In-kind assistance & expertise | Networking and fundraising support | Public Festival Program development
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The Partners Project team collaborated seamlessly on the project scope, plans and budget with PCC.
PAC LA secured full funding from private donations.
The Photo contest opened to PCC students in April, with over 400 images submitted by 127 students.
The Second Sight Photo Festival took place on Saturday, May 9th. The full day event featured hands-on workshops, talks from professional photographers and the judging panel, an awards ceremony, an exhibition opening, and a resource fair.
The festival was free and open to all, with hundreds of attendees celebrating the art of photography and the work of these extraordinary students.
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Alison Bryan Crowell
Contest Judges: Linde Lehtinen | Soo Kim
Dr. Gary Richwald and Ms. Sue Bayley
Festival Advisory Committee: Alondra Costilla | Arlene Mejorado | Chelsea Mosher | Diego Torres Casso | Eric Lee | Manjari Sharma
Freestyle Photo & Imaging Supplies
The Herb Ritts Foundation
PAC LA Board members
PAC LA PARTNERS facilitator Amanda Maddox
PCC Faculty leaders Juliana Rico and Anthony Lepore
The PCC Foundation
Workshop Leaders: Alejandro Sanchez | Felix Quintana | Las Fotos Project
Add your name to the list - DONATE HERE!
Image © Frank Cole. This was one of the entries from the 2023 student photography contest.
More Community Connections
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PAC LA + Inglewood Photo Festival
PAC LA is a Community Sponsor of this exciting annual event.
“The Inglewood Photo Festival isn’t just about pictures on a wall, it’s about reclaiming culture in a city too often defined by billion-dollar concrete. ”
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PAC LA + Center for Creative Photography
PAC LA is proud to fund an annual fellowship supporting research on the history of photography in the renowned archives at the Center for Creative Photography .
Image © Jacqueline Lee