The Moment it Clicks — 20 years with NYC Salt
by NYC Salt Executive Director, Alicia Hansen
In the winter of 2009, I presented my Master’s thesis about Salt. Not the mineral—but a digital photography program created 6 years prior. In a small conference room at Syracuse University after spending the morning photographing the campus, my students piled their heavy winter coats, camera equipment, and backpacks on the garish carpeting and accompanied me in the front of the room. I had officially graduated with an MFA in photography from Syracuse in 2003, and upon my return, found I was still not used to the uniform of ugly carpeting in universities!
Founded in 2003 after assisting renowned photographer Joe McNally on the first all-digital story for National Geographic, Salt began as an after-school photography program for 8 teenagers in Washington Heights. Our mission is to create opportunities for teens from low-income, predominantly immigrant communities in New York City to expand their artistic practice and achieve higher education through the lens of a camera. Our free, after-school programming helps put our students at the forefront of storytelling practices in NYC, and engages our students with the vast potentials of digital photography. Our instruction is taught by industry professionals and integrated with individualized mentoring, college guidance, and career exploration.
Now, as we reach our 20th Anniversary (!!), Salt serves 200+ young artists each year. Our studio moved to a central location in Chelsea, giving us incredible access to galleries, museums, creative business, guest lecturers, and—remarkably—has hard-wood floors!
Our deep engagement has resulted in unprecedented outcomes:
- 100% of Salt students graduate high school and attend college, with 86% being the first to do so
- 90% work in creative industries
- Last year, the class of 2024 received a collective 1.7 million in scholarships
- Our students are consistently featured in major publications like National Geographic, Rolling Stone, Time, The New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, and more!
- Check out our 2024 impact report to see firsthand our student’s accomplishments!
When I think back to my Master’s presentation, I don’t only remember the wall-to-wall carpeting. Instead, I think about the moments from these past 20 years that—ironically—did not make it on camera.
Bus rides to college tours and stops at gas stations to stretch our legs, french toast breakfasts for alumni with syrupy fingers, and late nights at the studio trying to get the perfect shot. I also remember the early days of our program when our students ran around New York City, their arms spilling over with cameras and lenses. In all, I remember those moments when it all just clicks.
That’s where Think Tank comes in. By providing our students with the right gear and technology to support their technical development, Think Tank has given our students the tools to immerse themselves within these incredible processes of creation. Not only have they equipped our students with the necessary materials to photograph, but by extension, Think Tank has enabled our students to bring their photography skills to a professional level, allowing them to explore the world-building potentials of photographic practice and fostering creative communities for young people to thrive.
I invite you to join Think Tank in celebrating our 20th Anniversary—Think Tank has been with us for the majority of those two decades, and we are so grateful for their belief in our mission. We’d love for you to consider supporting Salt to help us continue to inspire the next generation of artists!
Buy a ticket to our 20th Anniversary Show
Buy a print or piece from our alumni collections
