OUR IMPACT IN YEAR ONE

In its first year, The Darkroom Chicago has established itself as a vital creative space for film photography, storytelling, and community programming. Through workshops, open lab hours, and partnerships with cultural and civic organizations, we have created opportunities for youth, families, and artists to engage with photography as both art and archive.

Our Inaugural Exhibition & Cocktail Hour marks this milestone — a formal gathering to celebrate accomplishments, acknowledge supporters, and introduce the initiatives that will define our second year and beyond.

Workshops and Community Programs

More than 18 workshops and labs offered across Chicago, from beginner development to youth photography, community portrait sessions, and date-night darkroom experiences.
Over 200 participants engaged, including 70+ teens and 130+ adults — many stepping into a darkroom for the first time.
Family-centered events such as Generations: Southside Community Portraits and Capturing Community Through the Lens brought multiple generations into the same storytelling space.

Partnerships and Anchors

Our work is strengthened by partners who share our commitment to access, equity, and storytelling:

Chicago Park District — youth classes, open lab hours, and workshops at Tuley Park, where we steward space for ongoing programming.
Art Works Projects — collaborations connecting art and human rights through panels, artist talks, and archive reviews.
Outlast Arts & Education — serving Native youth in South Dakota through creative practice and access to film photography.
ConTextos — facilitating workshops for 16–24 year olds both onsite and in our community darkroom.
Lucky Jefferson — supporting the Randolph Emerging Photographers Fellowship to uplift new voices in film photography.
Rustic Falls Nature Camp — facilitating a weekend photography retreat for middle schoolers from Chicago’s West Side, expanding access to creative exploration beyond the city.
Cooperation Racine — stewarding darkroom space to expand access and ensure long-term sustainability in West Englewood.

Supporters of The Darkroom Chicago

We are grateful to every participant and all the supporters who have played a role in strengthening The Darkroom Chicago. Fotodiox and Rivian have contributed resources to sustain our work, the Gordon Parks Foundation has provided cultural support to enrich our programming, and Bellows Film Lab along with Latitude Chicago have supported by opening their spaces to broaden our reach. Each contribution has helped us grow into a vital creative space for community-centered photography.

Looking Ahead

As we enter our second year, The Darkroom Chicago is preparing to launch two key initiatives:

The Mobile Darkroom Initiative — first launching across Chicago’s South and West Sides, this traveling lab will bring film processing, workshops, and community archiving directly to neighborhoods often excluded from traditional art spaces. The initiative will extend across the nation, carrying our model of community-based photography and storytelling to other cities and regions.
The Darkroom Chicago Film Lab — scheduled to launch in 2026 as a Black-owned film lab, honoring the legacy of Photocell (1979–1981), a pioneering Black-owned lab in Chicago. This project will serve as both a resource for artists and a living tribute to cultural independence and innovation. As part of this expansion, we plan to employ young people and residents from our home community of Chatham, ensuring that the initiative builds opportunities as well as access.

Together, these initiatives position The Darkroom Chicago as a vital space for access, preservation, and community-based storytelling — locally and nationally. To support this work, we invite you to consider attending our Inaugural Exhibition & Cocktail Hour, sponsoring the event, or contributing directly to help us sustain and expand these efforts.

Attend • Sponsor • Support