About the Nonprofit
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NYC SALT photography programs incorporate a unique, holistic blend of photography and video programming, 1:1 mentoring, college preparation, internship matching, career exposure, and vocational training. Programs are multi-year and sequential, designed to level the playing field and provide a high level of visual arts education after school for students ages 14 -18 of diverse backgrounds. We place a high value on community building and students say that SALT is their family. SALT is led by creative professionals utilizing their talent, expertise and social capital to provide opportunities and create a pipeline from high school to college to careers in the creative industry. We aim to equip our students with the skill, knowledge and opportunity necessary to bring more diversity to the workforce. All SALT programming is free of cost to students.
Our program objectives:
- Teaching students to have a sense of invention or creation on their own
- Art making and visual literacy – learning to see and use relevant digital technology
- Building excellent portfolios for college applications, contests, and jobs
- Providing a foundation in the arts through photography that motivates students to go to college
- Helping first-generation students navigate the college application process
- College acceptance to the best art and communications schools in the US
- Teaching students to use their cameras to make freelance income
- Exposure to jobs in the creative industry and helping students build a professional network
All SALT programs are taught by professional photographers, include visits to galleries, museums, and creative industry businesses for career and artistic exposure, and culminate in a gallery show of student work. Students are given use of a digital camera kit for class and at home for the scope of program enrollment. An equipment locker with more professional camera gear is available for advanced students and alumni. We have relationships with Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm that garner consignments of cameras for students each year. SALT serves between 150 to 200 youth and young adults each year.
The Workshop Program is a foundational program in which students learn how to see and master the basics of digital technology, including the creative and technical aspects of photography, and visual literacy. On the technical side, students learn to use a DSLR camera in manual, how to import, edit and tone images in Adobe Lightroom, digital asset management, and how to use studio equipment. On the creative side, they learn composition, color theory, lighting, and visual storytelling. We believe this foundation fosters the development of creative thinking, observation, communication, confidence, courage, and self-advocacy. Students finish the Workshop with a portfolio for use in college applications, contests, and freelance jobs.
The Residency Program is an intensive, 3-4 year free after school program for high school students that takes place weekly for 3-hours/day from September to June. Students must apply to be part of the Residency Program via a written application and in-person interview. All interviews are conducted by our alumni who run the application process. We start the year with a weekend intensive to learn how to use their cameras. The bootcamp also focuses on team-building to encourage strong relationships that will bind students to each other and the program, create trust, and build community.
The Residency Program starts with a foundational year and builds each year upon skills from subsequent years. Classes focus on student creative development of style and voice, visual literacy, and students are tasked with choosing a story they will spend the year photographing. We delve deeper into technical training in studio lighting, the Adobe Suite, long exposure photography, portraiture and curating.
