The Weston Collective is where art, science, math, and technology meet through photography. TWC teaches elementary through high school photography classes, holds the annual Weston Scholarship, offers classes and open darkroom to adults, and hosts exhibitions and artist-in-residency programs. TWC is committed to teaching film and digital photography to students, regardless of age, disabilities, socioeconomics, demographics, race, or sexual identification.
The Weston Collective (TWC) is where art, science, math, and technology meet through learning photography. Founded in 2004, TWC – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Monterey County – teaches and exhibits photography and expands students’ analytic and creative thinking by putting cameras into their hands. TWC is committed to teaching film and digital photography to students on the Central Coast of California, regardless of age, disabilities, socioeconomics, demographics, race, or sexual identification.
TWC teaches photography classes to elementary through high school students, supports and organizes the annual Weston Scholarship and exhibition, and offers adult classes, darkroom rental, artist-in-residency programs, art shows, and exhibitions. TWC's educational approach to teaching and exhibiting photography is unique because it combines artistic, documentary, and scientific elements. TWC supports and provides students and adults with access to learning photography, an artistic medium that captures and tells one's stories while simultaneously documenting and capturing connections.
Serving all residents and students of Monterey County, the Weston Collective (TWC) primarily focuses on providing opportunities for historically marginalized students from underserved communities. Building the photographic facilities at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School of the Arts (MLK SOA) in Seaside provides TWC with the space to teach photography to students from the city and surrounding area.
TWC has three photography programs in the MPUSD school district – at Monte Vista TK-8 in Monterey, and at MLK SOA and the Dual Language Academy (DLAMP) in Seaside. TWC also serves students in Aromas at the Aromas School. A majority of the students in TWC’s programs are Hispanic and come from families whose self-reported income was in the lowest income bracket. TWC's programs reflect Monterey County’s student demographics – including those who identify as Hispanic, Black, Asian, and Indian. TWC has students from diverse backgrounds with disabilities and learning differences.
Facing Seaside is a project where business owners that are from the area let us take photos of them and connect with them. I enjoy talking and getting to know them.
- Steven V, Seaside
