In 1972 "The Photographers Cooperative” was founded by several artistic professionals in Charlotte. This group included Clifford Culpepper (Aerodyne Industries & Charlotte Camera Club), John Daughtry, Andy Howell (Knight Publishing Company), and Martha Strawn (The University of North Carolina, Charlotte), Tom Walters, Byron Baldwin, Bill Scott, John Bambach, Beverly Anderson.

The impetus to this coming together was a "Charlotte Observer" article about Strawn joining the UNCC Faculty to initiate a photography program. The second meeting of this group took place in an upstairs room at Anderson's Restaurant where it was decided that there needed "home" for Photography in the area and the group set their first annual membership fee of $25.

There were about twenty five original members during the first year of The Photographers' Cooperative. The first space was the upstairs rooms of the Torrence Street Gallery, which was remodeled into two exhibition spaces and a downstairs area used as a gathering room. In 1973, in order to be eligible to receive funding from state and federal resources, The Photographer's Cooperative members decided to become a non-profit, educational corporation and thus was born "The Light Factory".

The stated purpose was:
The fundamental philosophy and purpose of The Light Factory is to provide an outlet for the displaying of photographic prints and other creative products of the photographic medium. The Light Factory is to provide space for this activity in a gallery. The work which is displayed in the gallery will be work which stands on its aesthetic and creative value. The gallery shall be open in its approach to the type of work displayed. The Light Factory will also encourage work in photography as a fine art and encourage use of the gallery for educational purposes."

This has stayed the mission of The Light Factory, which moved to its current home at Spirit Square in 2003. Throughout our history we have housed hundreds of exhibitions ranging in topics and artistic expression.

In 1999, The Light Factory expanded its mission to include “the other white meat” of lens art, film.

Please contact us for more information.