Jansen Art Center Launches the Center for Lens Arts at The J

The Jansen Art Center today announced the launch of the Center for Lens Arts at The J, a professionally equipped darkroom and photography studio opening in early 2026. The Center will be one of the few publicly accessible darkrooms in Washington state and a new creative gateway for photographers throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Center for Lens Arts is a community studio empowering photographers of all backgrounds to explore the full spectrum of lens arts, from darkroom to digital, through educational excellence, world-class facilities, and scholarship opportunities that ensure cost is never a barrier to participation.

The new studio advances The J's strategic goals to expand high-quality arts programming, strengthen community engagement, and enhance the region's reputation as a cultural tourism destination. Fully donor-funded at launch, the Center will provide foundational classes, open-studio access, digital-negative workflows, advanced workshops, and opportunities to learn from nationally recognized photographers. Soft-launch programming begins this winter, with full rollout in February 2026.

Three lead artists, Jay Tyrrell, Allen Sanders, and Doug Ethridge, shaped the Center's development, bringing combined decades of teaching, darkroom design, and creative innovation. Their vision honors the tactile craft of analog processes and the creative possibilities of digital photography, while fostering innovation through hybrid techniques that bridge both worlds.

The opening responds to renewed national interest in film photography and rising demand for community darkrooms amid limited access across Washington. The Center offers world-class equipment, expert instruction, and a supportive, cross-disciplinary creative community.

“It’s exciting to offer something rare in our region: a place where people can discover, return to, or advance their photographic craft in a supportive environment," said Jansen Art Center Executive Director Cluny Madison. "The Center for Lens Arts at The J will open new pathways for creativity, belonging, and artistic growth."

About the Jansen Art Center

The Jansen Art Center provides world-class facilities, expert instruction, and a welcoming community where people of all ages can meet, learn, and create. Located in Lynden, WA, The J offers studios in ceramics, textiles, jewelry, painting, music, and lens-based arts, alongside year-round exhibitions and performances.