PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTS COUNCIL LOS ANGELES - PAC LA

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PAC LA is…

© Kali Archibald

…passionate about photography as an art form.

And we’re excited to share our passion with you.

Dedicated

For over a decade, our focus has been to gather and engage experts and curious newcomers in conversation about the ways photography connects and enriches our community.

Independent

From our roots as an advisory council to one of the largest museums in the country, PAC LA is now recognized as a leading independent resource for the entire arts community in Los Angeles and beyond.

Connected

We bring together artists, gallerists, museums, collectors, educators, and individuals to create unique collaborations, programs and experiences.

Active

PAC LA produces a robust calendar of expertly curated public and member events throughout the city, along with online talks and guided travel, on our own and in partnership with other notable arts organizations. We also produce a thought-provoking digital newsletter every month. It’s free, so why not subscribe?

Here for You

PAC LA exists to build, educate, and engage our community, and that means we do this for you. Whether you are a supporting member, a viewer on our YouTube channel, a follower on Instagram, or a first time guest at an event in your neighborhood, we are so glad you found us.

 

  • The Photographic Arts Council Los Angeles creates unique collaborative programming that engages and educates the community in an evolving public conversation about photography and photo-based art.

  • We recognize photography and photo-based art connects us to one another and pushes the boundaries of our understanding.

    As we build upon our knowledge of photography’s complex history, PAC LA fosters a deeper understanding of contemporary artists and their influence on our culture. We engage our diverse community through active learning opportunities – through viewing and discussing classic and contemporary photography, hearing lectures by experts, engaging in an ongoing dialogue with artists and participating in photo-focused travel.

    Giving back is fundamental to the PAC LA culture. Through volunteer work, partnerships, mentoring and grant initiatives we empower the PAC LA community to contribute to a new generation of scholars, artists, students and social activists discovering photography as a powerful means of self-expression. Join us and experience the wide range of photographic activity in the art capital of Los Angeles and beyond.

  • Created in 2022, our strategic plan focuses on ensuring a future of self-sustainability and a growing and diverse PAC LA community.

    The plan is a living and evolving document that has been embraced and is used by our Board to chart and evaluate our progress regularly.

    Learn more and read the plan here.

Explore: Programs | Travel | Membership | Team


EXPERIENCE PAC LA

Something is always happening at PAC LA! Follow us on Instagram for up-to-the-minute event postings, news and recaps, and browse below for what’s in the works now. We offer live in-person programs for the general public throughout Los Angeles, special opportunities for our members, and unique online conversations accessible anytime, anywhere. Get even more curated guidance to current events in photography in our FREE monthly newsletter.

© Yang Fudong

PAC LA for Everyone

PAC LA PRESENTS: YEAR OF THE WOMAN

In honor of the powerful women who helped to shape PAC LA's first decade, we are launching Year of the Woman, a series of flagship public educational events celebrating notable women in fine art photography. The organization is building an entire year of programming around this central theme and will offer free, in-person events, held quarterly at venues across the city in 2025 and early 2026.

Read more here.

This groundbreaking programming initiative is made possible through the generous sponsorship of Eastman Museum Los Angeles.

© Alex Prager


Upcoming Public Programs

© Erinn Springer

JAN 17 2026 | Broken Ground - Exhibition and Open House

Come and experience Broken Ground, a group exhibition curated by Ryan McIntosh featuring photographers Austin Irving, Erinn Springer, Margeaux Walter and Paula Chamlee during the upcoming Open Studios evening at The REEF. In addition to the PAC LA show, the January 17 event will feature more than 35 artists, galleries, and creative spaces opening their doors, making for a truly exciting evening out.

More on the show and the participating photographers can be found at the registration link, below. The exhibition will be closing soon, so don’t miss this opportunity!

Sat Jan 17 2026 | 5-8 PM PST | FREE

PAC LA @ The Reef | Register Here


© Sally Mann

FEB 10 2026 | Sally Mann’s Art Work: On the Creative Life

PAC LA and the Getty Center invite you to a remarkable event,: photographer Sally Mann discussing her latest book, Art Work.

Illustrated with photographs, journal entries, and letters that bring immediacy and poignancy to the narrative, the book is full of insights about the hazards of early promise; the unpredictable role of luck; the value of work, work, work, and more hard work; the challenges of rejection and distraction; the importance of risk-taking; and the rewards of knowing why and when you say yes. In sparkling prose and thoughtfully juxtaposed visuals and ephemera, this reading and conversation with critic Leah Ollman is a generous, provocative exploration of creativity by one of our most original thinkers.

Art Work is available to purchase in advance at the registration link, below.

Tues Feb 10 2026 | 7 PM PST | FREE

The Getty Center | Register Here

 

SUPPORT OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS

PAC LA for Members

Upcoming Member Opportunities

© Gregory Halpern

APR 30 - MAY 3 2026 | Member Travel Opportunity: Upstate NY

The George Eastman Museum is the historical epicenter of photography in America and its collections and curators are a literal treasure trove for lovers of the medium. Through our unique partnership, PAC LA has the opportunity to bring our members to Upstate NY this spring as VIP guests. In addition to immersive behind-the-scenes Museum access and exclusive experiences with a notable collector and a Magnum photographer, we will spend time exploring the fabled architecture and arts scene in nearby Buffalo. This full-service guided trip also includes delectable tastes of the famed farm-to-table cuisine of the region, and great company to enjoy every moment with!

April 30 - May 4 2025 | $1,850 for members | $2,150 non-members

Rochester & Buffalo NY | Register Here

 
BECOME A MEMBER

PAC LA Online

Since early 2020, PAC LA has presented conversations with artists, curators, collectors and experts from all corners of the photography and lens-based art world. Visit our YouTube Channel to enjoy our full archive.

Production of new PAC LA online talks and our free public archive is made possible by the generous financial support of the Herb Ritts Foundation.

Recent Conversations

MORE CONVERSATIONS

Questions/Ideas about PAC LA Events? | Email us!

 

THE REWARDS OF MEMBERSHIP

 
 

PAC LA Membership connects you directly to the heart of the photographic arts community here in Los Angeles.

JOIN
RENEW

Through expertly curated experiences, our members…

Explore and Discover

PAC LA members have unparalleled access to artists, museums, galleries, and private collections, all year long, all over Los Angeles. And beyond.

Learn and Discuss

Our private group visits are hosted by leading curators, academics, and often, the photographers themselves. We create comfortable opportunities for members to ask questions, share impressions and exchange ideas with the experts, and each other.

Connect with Each Other

Not only do our members share a curiosity and enthusiasm for fine art photography, they are also warm, welcoming and fun to spend time with. Join this vibrant community and you’ll find yourself among friends.

Support PAC LA

Membership contributions are the primary source of funding for PAC LA. Your dues allow us to serve the Los Angeles arts community as an independent council, produce outstanding programming for members and the public, and to support the health and growth of this vital ecosystem through our work.

Want to do even more with us? Become a Sponsor member!

All membership fees are 100% tax deductible.

Join or Renew today!

© Baldwin Lee

Member Programs include:

Artist Studio Visits & Conversations

Meet photographers where they work, or join them for a guided tour through a new installation. Get direct insight into the creative process and their personal stories.

Past Highlights: Ken Gonzalez-Day | Matthew Brandt | Zanele Muholi| Torbjorn Rodland & James Turrel | | Todd Gray | Judy Dater

Curator-Led Museum & Gallery Walkthroughs

Dive into curator-led walkthroughs at major museums including: The Getty, The Hammer, The Autry, LACMA, The Huntington, The Norton Simon Museum, and more.

Past Highlights: Mapplethorpe at LACMA | Kamoinge Workshop at the Getty | Shirin Neshat at The Broad | La Raza at the Autry

Insider Access to Private Collections and Shows

Be welcomed into private homes and spaces to see photographs that are not normally available to the public. You will also enjoy VIP treatment at photo events around the world.

Past Highlights: Stanford Libraries Collection | Salon event with Tom Gitterman | Collection Visit with Paula Ely & Cesar Rueda | VIP Passes to AIPAD, Photo London and Zona Maco

Immersive Travel

The PAC LA Travel Program offers members extraordinary photography-focused travel opportunities in the US and internationally.
Past Highlights:
Japan, Chicago, London, Mexico City, Paris, New York, Toronto, Carmel, Kansas City, Tucson, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco | Coming soon: Seattle!

See upcoming PAC LA Events here.

BECOME A MEMBER

© Shirin Aliabadi

Have a membership question? | membership@paclosangeles.com