Light Work was founded in 1973 by a group of artists who came together to create a facility to provide community access to photographic lab equipment and to expand the dialogue of photography as an art, science, and medium of social change. The combination of the need for access to equipment, education, and dialogue resulted in the formation of Light Work.

Light Work's core facility is the Community Darkrooms a public access photography and digital imaging lab. Through the operation of this facility, Light Work grew into a program to support artists in the production of new work, and to disseminate the work of artists through its exhibitions, publications, and educational programs.

By 1976 Light Work had established its Artist-in-Residence program, formulated an exhibition series, began to collect photographs, and published the first issue of Contact Sheet. Contact Sheet is a visual journal that features work by artists who have participated in our Artist-in-Residence and exhibition programs.