What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Athens Photographic Project

Home
United States
Athens, OH
Athens Photographic Project

A non-profit organization where community members use artistic expression as a component of mental health recovery. "The words just don't come out right.

A social enterprise where community members work as photographers with support. But through my pictures, I have a voice." - Jenny Hughes, APP artist

The Athens Photographic Project (APP) came about in 2000, when our founder, mental health advocate Elise Sanford, noticed a lack of recovery services in Southeast Ohio. She also noticed that people living with mental illness were often isolated and u

ninvolved in the community. Elise knew they were capable of much more. Since our founding, we have offered introductory and advanced photography courses, as well as exhibition opportunities, for adults and teens living with mental illness. By nurturing students' creativity, classes provide opportunities for self-exploration, self-expression, and renewed self-worth. APP students also have a transformative impact outside of the classroom, where their work adds a powerful voice to the arts and generates greater understanding about mental health.

05/18/2026

Join our Summer Youth Photo Project: Resilience!
Young artists, ages 13-18, join us to explore your story growing up in Southeast Ohio through digital photography with professional photographers and Peer Recovery Specialists.

Athens Photo Project is hosting 8 week programs for young people from Athens, Hocking, Ross, and Vinton counties, June 8 - August 7. These youth artists will be featured in a traveling exhibition opening in Athens in Fall 2026.

• Free for teens 13-18
• Accessible to new, emerging, and experienced artists
• Priority registration for youth and/or families enrolled
in a behavioral health support service.

Currently taking referrals: For questions contact our program director, Lacy Davis at [email protected] or 740-941-629.

05/14/2026

Last call to apply for priority consideration!

Our arts and wellness team at the Athens Photo Project is growing, and we’re currently hiring for one Arts & Wellness Specialist position and two COMCorps Arts & Wellness Coordinator positions.

These roles support creative, community-based programming that uses photography to foster connection, self-expression, and recovery throughout Southeast Ohio.

Arts & Wellness Specialist
This staff role helps coordinate and facilitate photography-based groups that support creativity, personal growth, and community connection. The specialist works closely with participants, helps shape programming, and contributes to a welcoming, collaborative creative environment.

COMCorps Arts & Wellness Coordinators
COMCorps members support the day-to-day work of our arts and wellness programming through group facilitation, participant engagement, outreach, and creative activities. Coordinators also help develop new initiatives shaped by the ideas and interests of our peer community.

If you’re passionate about community arts, mental health recovery, and collaborative creative work, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, email Lacy Davis at [email protected] with a cover letter and resume.

Questions? Feel free to email or call/text Lacy at 740-941-6291.

Apply by May 15th for full consideration!

05/02/2026

Our arts and wellness team is growing! The Athens Photo Project is seeking an Arts & Wellness Specialist and two ComCorps members to support creative, community-based programming that uses photography to foster connection, expression, and recovery.

Arts & Wellness Specialist
This staff role helps coordinate and facilitate photography-based groups that support creativity, personal growth, and community connection. The Arts & Wellness Specialist works closely with participants, helps shape programming, and contributes to a welcoming, collaborative creative environment.

COMCorps Members-Arts and Wellness Coordinators
ComCorps Arts & Wellness Coordinators support the day-to-day work of our arts and wellness programming. They help drive programming forward by assisting with group facilitation, participant engagement, outreach, and creative activities, while helping develop new initiatives shaped by the ideas and interests of our peer community.

For more information about the positions and how to apply visit our website at: https://athensphotoproject.org/engage/career-opportunities/

04/14/2026

This past Friday, we were honored to host an incredible Service-Learning Day at Athens Photo Project. A team of 10 students from Athens High School, along with two student teachers, joined us to get their hands dirty and deepen their understanding of civic engagement through action.

Together, students, APP artists, and volunteers built five garden beds using recycled and rescued materials—laying the groundwork for our new community garden and future wellness programming.

This project wouldn't have been possible without APP’s COMCorps member, Sophia Hoffman, whose spirit of collaboration and drive to get things done brought this vision to life. From coordinating partners to making sure every detail was in place, her leadership carried this project from idea to reality. We’re also incredibly grateful to the entire COMCorps team—not only for the amazing work they do, but for showing up in full force to support this day of service.

We’re grateful to Brian Dearing and his students, as well as Michael Kopish from Patton College of Education at Ohio University—and a special thank you to his two student teachers.

An extra special thank you to Amy Fugikama and our partners at Community Food Initiatives for their guidance in planning the garden, helping us source materials, delivering compost to our site, and lending tools that made this project possible.
We also want to thank GoodFellows Pizza for generously providing food for our volunteers.

We’re excited to watch this garden grow and to continue expanding our wellness programming at APP.

We’re especially grateful to Brian Dearing and his students, as well as Michael Kopish from Patton College of Education at Ohio University—and a special thank you to his two student teachers who helped lead this project alongside him.

An extra special thank you to Amy Fugikama and our partners at Community Food Initiatives for their guidance in planning the garden, helping us source materials, delivering compost to our site, and lending tools that made this project possible.
We also want to thank GoodFellows Pizza for generously providing food for our volunteers.

We’re excited to watch this garden grow and to continue expanding our wellness programming at APP.

Athens City School District COMCorps an AmeriCorps Program OHIO Patton College of Education Community Food Initiatives GoodFella's Pizza

12/26/2025

Now Hiring: Part-Time Photography Instructors

The Athens Photographic Project (APP) is seeking creative, compassionate, and community-minded arts educators to join our team!

For 25 years, APP has empowered people living with mental health and substance use challenges to use photography as a tool for expression, connection, and recovery. Based in Southeast Ohio, our peer-run nonprofit blends artmaking with personal growth, collaboration, and community impact.

As a Photography Instructor, you’ll teach photography classes, mentor artists, and coordinate community programs. You’ll help create welcoming and inclusive spaces where creativity supports healing and drives social change.

We’re looking for individuals with photography experience, strong people skills, and a belief in the transformative power of the arts. Teaching or community engagement experience is a plus—and lived experience with recovery is valued.

Pay Rate: $21/hour

To Apply:
Email a cover letter and resume to Lacy Davis at [email protected].

Learn more at https://athensphotoproject.org/engage/career-opportunities/

11/04/2025

Now Hiring: Photography Instructor & Community Arts Coordinator

The Athens Photographic Project (APP) is seeking a creative, compassionate, and community-minded arts educator to join our team!

For 25 years, APP has empowered people living with mental health and substance use challenges to use photography as a tool for expression, connection, and recovery. Based in Southeast Ohio, our peer-run nonprofit blends art making with personal growth, collaboration, and community impact.

As our Photography Instructor & Community Arts Coordinator, you’ll teach photography classes, mentor artists, and coordinate exhibitions and community programs. You’ll help create welcoming and inclusive spaces where creativity supports healing and drives social change.

We’re looking for someone with photography experience, strong people skills, and a belief in the transformative power of the arts. Teaching or community engagement experience is a plus, and lived experience with recovery is valued.

Salary: $40,000 plus health reimbursement, paid time off, holidays, and ongoing professional development.

Apply by Nov. 21
Email a cover letter and résumé to Lacy Davis at [email protected].

Learn more at https://athensphotoproject.org/engage/career-opportunities/

09/12/2025

Please join us for the opening reception:
SEEING THROUGH OUR EYES
Thursday Sept. 18th 5-7pm
The Bowen House
196 N Market St
Logan, Ohio 43138

09/03/2025

Join us in celebrating National Recovery Month at the opening reception of Recovery Reframed at Stuart’s Opera House on Friday, September 5, from 5–7 PM.

This exhibition features portraits and writings created through a series of peer-led workshops, bringing together APP artists and community members in recovery. By sharing our stories and experiences, we aim to build connection, foster healing, and spark meaningful dialogue within our community.

09/02/2025

Come out and see us at the Overdose Awareness event at the Baker Center today from 10-2p on the 3rd floor. Recovery Reframed will be having a portrait/writing session for anyone celebrating 1 year in sobriety. If you miss that... please consider coming out to the Carlson Center from 3-6p today where you will have another opportunity to participate in our Recovery Reframed project!

08/27/2025

We are so very excited to announce our presence this year at multiple venues for OVER DOSE AWARENESS DAY / WEEK! Athens County Hocking County and Vinton County. If you are celebrating 1 year in sobriety we would LOVE to have you participate in our project! RecoveryReframed.Org
Please check the times and locations for each county.

Address

434 West Union Street
Athens, OH
45701

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

(740) 589-7655

Website

http://www.athensphotoproject.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Athens Photographic Project posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Athens Photographic Project:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Opening Hours
Alerts
Contact The Establishment
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Athens?