Light Work
Light Work is a Syracuse-based non-profit photography organization founded in 1973 that supports photographers and media artists through international residencies, grants, exhibitions, an Urban Video Project, a community-access lab, and the Contact Sheet publication.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersSyracuse, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Light Work does
Light Work is an artist-run non-profit organization founded in 1973 in Syracuse, New York, that provides direct support to photographers and media artists through four interconnected program pillars: an international Artist-in-Residence Program hosting 12-15 artists annually for one-month stays with a $7,500 stipend, furnished apartment, and 24-hour lab access; the Light Work Grants in Photography program awarding five $3,000 grants annually to New York State photographers outside NYC; the Urban Video Project (UVP) commissioning media artists for architectural projections at the Everson Museum of Art ($3,500 Regional Commission and $10,000 Residential Commission); and the Light Work Lab community-access facility offering high-quality printing/scanning equipment, a black-and-white darkroom, lighting studio, and lounge/library on a subscription membership basis.
The organization's underlying technology is primarily physical infrastructure rather than software: lab equipment, exhibition galleries (Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery, Jeffrey J. Hoone Gallery), Community Darkrooms, and the UVP architectural projection site at 401 Harrison Street. Supporting technology includes the SlideRoom application portal for program submissions, a Light Work Collection digital archive at collection.lightwork.org, an e-commerce shop at lightwork.shop for Contact Sheet subscriptions, Light Work Annuals, books, and prints, plus standard content/social infrastructure (website, email newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Vimeo). Contact Sheet is an award-winning publication that consolidates AIR and Grant recipient work with commissioned essays.
Light Work's business model is non-profit and hybrid: recurring revenue comes from Lab membership subscriptions, Contact Sheet subscriptions, and book/print sales via the e-commerce shop; programmatic expenses include the AIR stipends, grant disbursements, and UVP commission fees; and institutional support comes from foundation and state arts funding (notably the NYS Council on the Arts, Autograph ABP since 1996, and the Darryl Chappel Foundation). Pricing for memberships and publications is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is event-driven through open application calls, exhibitions, artist talks, UVP Community Nights, and screenings rather than traditional sales motion. The customer base spans individual artists (primary), regional photographers, photography students, and general public art patrons, with no enterprise or commercial customer concentration.
Light Work firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Light Work
- Legal name
- Light Work
- Website
- https://lightwork.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Light Work is a Syracuse-based non-profit photography organization founded in 1973 that supports photographers and media artists through international residencies, grants, exhibitions, an Urban Video Project, a community-access lab, and the Contact Sheet publication.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Light Work is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Syracuse
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Light Work business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Program: Light Work Lab offers membership providing access to state-of-the-art facilities including printing and scanning equipment, black-and-white darkroom, and lighting studio. The lab serves artists from all over the world.
- Light Work Grants in Photography: Grant program providing $3,000 awards to photographers in New York State (outside NYC region) to support development of ongoing projects and creation of new work. Recipients' work is exhibited at Light Work and reproduced in Contact Sheet publication.
- UVP Commission Program: Urban Video Project commissions for media artists including $3,500 Regional Commission (non-residential, Central New York artists) and $10,000 Residential Commission (one-month residency in Syracuse).
- Artist-in-Residence Stipend: International residency program inviting 12-15 artists annually to Syracuse for one month, including $7,500 stipend, furnished artist apartment, 24-hour lab access, and staff support. Work published in Contact Sheet.
- Shop and Publications: Sale of Contact Sheet subscriptions, Light Work Annuals, books, and prints directly through lightwork.shop. Subscription programs include basic subscriptions and book/print level options.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | AIR Program: $7,500 stipend plus furnished apartment and 24-hour lab access |
| Other | Multi-year contract | UVP Regional Commission: $3,500 fee for Central New York artists |
| Other | Multi-year contract | UVP Residential Commission: $10,000 fee for media artists |
| Other | Annual | Light Work Grants: $3,000 per grant |
| Subscription | Monthly | Lab Membership: Various tiers available |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Light Work product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Light Work is an artist-run non-profit organization that supports photographers and media artists through an international Artist-in-Residence program, project-based Light Work Grants in Photography, the Urban Video Project (UVP) architectural exhibition series, a community-access Light Work Lab (digital and darkroom facilities), and the award-winning Contact Sheet publication. The organization also maintains the Light Work Collection, a permanent archive of works produced by residency alumni.
Product overview
Light Work is an artist-run non-profit photography organization founded in 1973 that operates as a unified set of interconnected programs rather than a traditional product platform. The core offerings include: the Artist-in-Residence Program (month-long international residencies with $7,500 stipends), Light Work Grants in Photography ($3,000 awards for NY State photographers), Urban Video Project (architectural video projection commissions at the Everson Museum), Light Work Lab (community-access photography facility), Contact Sheet publications, and the Light Work Collection online archive. These programs work together to provide comprehensive support for photographers through residency, funding, exhibition, publication, and archival services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Contact Sheet: Light Work's award-winning publication featuring photography and related media.
Products and services
- Artist-in-Residence Program A month-long international residency for photographers and media artists that provides studio workspace, access to Light Work Lab facilities, a stipend, and a culminating publication in Contact Sheet. The program has supported more than 400 artists since 1973 and is open to applicants worldwide.
- Light Work Grants in Photography Annual project-based grants awarded to photographers in New York State, with priority given to artists residing in Central New York. Grant recipients receive funding, access to Light Work Lab facilities, and inclusion of their work in a Light Work publication.
- Urban Video Project (UVP) An outdoor evening exhibition program that commissions and presents contemporary video art projected onto the exterior of the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, NY, bringing experimental moving-image work to a broad public audience.
- Light Work Lab A community-access photography facility offering membership-based use of black-and-white darkrooms, a digital imaging lab with high-end printers and scanners, and a professional lighting studio. Serves working photographers, students, and the Central New York creative community.
- Contact Sheet Publication An award-winning print publication documenting the work of residency alumni and grant recipients, distributed to subscribers, art institutions, libraries, and members.
- Light Work Collection A permanent archival collection of photographic and media art works produced through Light Work's residency and grant programs, made accessible online as a research and reference resource for scholars, curators, and the public.
Quantifiable outcome
- 400+ artists supported through Artist-in-Residence program since inception
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Light Work
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Light Work technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Light Work partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.
- Autograph ABPcoreLong-standing partnership since 1996 for the Artist-in-Residence program. Autograph ABP is a London-based charity that works internationally to educate the public about photography with emphasis on issues of cultural identity and human rights. Each year, one Artist-in-Residence is selected through this collaboration. Notable co-sponsored artists include Marcia Michael (2016) and Admas Habteslasie (2008, tenth artist through the partnership).
- Darryl Chappel FoundationcorePartnership supporting the Artist-in-Residence program alongside Autograph ABP. Provides funding and resources enabling Light Work to host international artists for residencies.
- New York State Council on the ArtsmajorSupported exhibitions and programs through state funding with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Provided support for UVP exhibitions including Isaac Julien's 'Western Union: Small Boats (The Leopard)' and Dani ReStack's 'Platonic'.
- Syracuse University Humanities CentersupportingPartner supporting exhibitions including Keisha Scarville: Alma and Light Work Lab's Portfolio Review Workshop as part of the 2018-19 Syracuse Symposium: Stories.
- Everson Museum of ArtcoreHost venue for Light Work's Urban Video Project (UVP) architectural projection site on the museum's facade at 401 Harrison Street, Syracuse. Provides outdoor venue for UVP exhibitions including Isaac Julien, Christopher Harris, and other commissioned media artists.
- Community Folk Art CentersupportingPartner venue for UVP programming as part of the 'Celestial Navigation' year-long program (2014-15). Located at 805 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse. Cross-programmed exhibitions with Light Work.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Light Work competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Light Work social profiles
Digital presenceLight Work financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Light Work leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Light Work funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Light Work M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Light Work
What does Light Work do?
Light Work is an artist-run non-profit organization that supports photographers and media artists through an international Artist-in-Residence program, project-based Light Work Grants in Photography, the Urban Video Project (UVP) architectural exhibition series, a community-access Light Work Lab (digital and darkroom facilities), and the award-winning Contact Sheet publication. The organization also maintains the Light Work Collection, a permanent archive of works produced by residency alumni.
Is Light Work a public or private company?
Light Work is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Light Work founded?
Light Work was founded in 1973. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Light Work based?
Light Work is headquartered in Syracuse, United States, in the North America region.
How does Light Work make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Program is the primary driver. The others are light Work Grants in Photography, UVP Commission Program, artist-in-Residence Stipend and shop and Publications.
Does Light Work have an API?
No public API is recorded for Light Work.