Students help film,
photo site strategize

 

MBA candidates study how Light Factory can offer more education

 

APRIL BETHEA

abethea@charlotteobserver.com

Officials at The Light Factory in uptown Charlotte wanted to learn how the nonprofit could expand its educational offerings. But a small staff and heavy workload meant doing the research on their own might be tricky.

So the organization looked outside for help.

Enter business students from Queens University of Charlotte.

Each summer, students in the executive MBA program can either go on an international study tour or volunteer with a local organization to create a business plan or other project.

In the past, Queens students have volunteered with groups such as Habitat for Humanity and the Community Center for the Arts. In 2000, a group helped the Boy Scouts figure out in which parts of the city to step up recruiting, said Bill Berry, director of the EMBA program.

This summer, three groups of EMBA students are working with the Charlotte Chamber, United Methodist Agency for the Retarded and The Light Factory. The EMBA program is a two-year curriculum for working professionals with management experience.

The five-member team working with The Light Factory said they were impressed with how the organization reaches out to the community. The Light Factory offers art exhibitions and film screenings, as well as classes in film and photography.

Being able to work with the education side of the company was especially appealing to Queens students John Luebke and Robert Weatherwax, who are interested in photography.

Expanding the number and type of classes The Light Factory offers is a major goal for the nonprofit, said education director Charles Thomas. Officials are especially interested in increasing film programs, he said.

The work comes at a pivotal time for The Light Factory. The nonprofit is in the Spirit Square arts complex, which has been poised for redevelopment.

Current plans have The Light Factory staying at Spirit Square, though it will have to move to a new location temporarily as the arts complex is remade, said Light Factory Executive Director Marcie Kelso. A rough move-out date could happen between late 2008 and early 2009, and construction could take up to two years, she said.

Thomas said the Queens' students work will help brainstorm about what types of programs they could offer in a bigger space in Spirit Square.

Early this summer, the Queens group met with Light Factory leaders to find out about the background and vision of the organization, and asked how the team could best help them.

Throughout the summer, they've poured through data including the types of classes The Light Factory offers and to whom, and current and future demographic trends for the Charlotte area.

Group members said they've enjoyed the research, but admitted it's been a balancing act. All have full-time jobs, and squeeze in meetings to discuss the project with one another about every 10 days or so.

In September, the students plan to present the nonprofit's board with information on how The Light Factory could expand its classes, including advanced courses.

Thomas said he hopes the final product will give Light Factory leaders a better assessment of the groups' strengths and challenges. "It's good that we know what's possible and what do we need to have in place."

Kelso, the executive director, said expanding the educational side of The Light Factory could help the rest of the nonprofit. Currently, she said, 37 percent of the organization's income comes from money raised by the classes and two major fundraisers.

Kelso said leaders want to make sure they have a strong earned-income base, which would help pay for other programs at the center.

The Light Factory

OFFICIAL NAME: The Light Factory Contemporary Museum of Photography and Film.

FOUNDED: 1973.

ANNUAL BUDGET: $720,000 this fiscal year, up from $650,000 for fiscal year that ended June 30.

HOW FUNDED: Income from classes and two major fundraisers, grants from Arts & Science Council and ArtsTeach and donations.

PROGRAMS: Photo exhibitions, film screenings, outreach and classes in film and photography

CLASSES: Offered at beginner-advanced levels. Typically held one night each week.

TUITION: $95 to $280 per course.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: about 630 anticipated this year, up from 550 a year ago. Also teaches about 5,000 K-12 students annually.