Palm Beach Photographic Centre Advances the Art of Photography
If a picture is worth a thousand words, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre has enough to fill a hefty tome. Located in downtown West Palm Beach and dedicated to the enrichment of life through education, exhibitions, community programs, workshops and cultural activities that promote the art of photography and digital imaging, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre has been recognized by the Columbia Journalism Review as one of the world’s leading photo centers.
Not only does the photographic center bring the work of masters to the residents of Palm Beach County through its year-round museum and gallery exhibitions, it also invites residents to learn from some of those same experts by hosting workshops, seminars and lectures conducted by world-renowned photographers and digital imaging artists such as Vincent Versace, Robert Farber, Laurence Gartel, Douglas Kirkland, Lewis Kemper and Ross Whitaker, among others.
In addition to classes in basic photography intended for local residents looking to explore photography primarily as a hobby, the centere offers more than 300 workshops annually that help amateur and professionally advanced photographers develop their creative potential, learn new photographic techniques and applications, and share their skills with others.
"Centre workshops are different than most others in that we stress the creative, visionary process," the organization's website states. "We encourage an open forum for ideas. After years of professional immersion, our instructors communicate the intuitive and intangible so vital to personal expression."
The center's signature event is called FOTOfusion, an annual international festival devoted to the art of photography. Those who register can attend seminars, photo shoots, master workshops, computer labs, lectures and community events intended to keep them on the cutting-edge of the art form. About 100 photography experts participate each year to share their insights thereby drawing registrants from around the world. Held every January, FOTOfusion attracts as many as 18,000 visitors annually to Palm Beach County, according to the Centre.
The center also holds an annual members' juried exhibition, open to photographers worldwide working in all media and styles. This year's 15th annual INFOCUS Juried Exhibition will take place June 25 through August 20, 2011. The center will also showcase the exhibition on its website.
In the fall of 2009, the Palm Beach Photographic Centre relocated from Delray Beach to Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach, where it took up residence in the newly constructed City Center, inhabiting a 33,000-square-foot space with an exhibition gallery, classrooms, studio, labs, offices and a photography shop.
HelloWestPalmBeach Tip: Parents looking to keep their kids occupied during school vacations should take note of various activities for children offered by the photographic center, including a summer camp for school children, as well as a program for disadvantaged youth throughout the year.
Posted on Mar 29, 2011 by Brian Bixler
