Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography facts for kids
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Dissolved | 2009 |
| Location | within National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | gallery |
The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography (CMCP) was a special place in Ottawa, Canada. It was like a gallery that showed amazing Canadian photographs. These photos were often modern art or pictures that told stories about real life. The museum started in 1985 and was connected to the National Gallery of Canada.
Contents
Exploring the Photography Museum
The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, or CMCP, was a unique gallery. It focused on showing photographs made by Canadian artists. These pictures included both modern art and photos that captured real-life events. The museum was a part of the larger National Gallery of Canada.
Where the Museum Was Located
For a while, the CMCP didn't have its own building. Then, in 1992, it moved to a special new home at 1 Rideau Canal in Ottawa. The entrance to the museum was quite interesting. It was designed by architects Rysavy Rysavy. Visitors would walk through a glass and concrete entrance. This led them down to the main part of the museum, which was actually below street level.
Who Led the Museum?
The first director and main curator of the CMCP was Martha Langford. She was in charge from when the museum started in 1985 until 1994. A curator is someone who chooses and organizes the art for exhibitions.
What Photos Were in the Collection?
The CMCP had a huge collection of photographs. Many of these pictures came from the Still Photography Division of the National Film Board of Canada. By 2005, the museum owned about 160,000 different photographic works. This included photos by famous Canadian artists like Kelly Wood.
Why the Museum Closed Its Doors
The CMCP was temporarily closed in 2006 because of a leak in its building. Then, in March 2009, it was announced that the museum would close permanently. The building was going to be changed into committee rooms. All of the CMCP's amazing photo collections and exhibition plans were then moved to the National Gallery of Canada. People tried to keep the museum open in its special building, but it didn't work.
The Future of the Photo Collection
Even though the CMCP closed, its important collection of photographs continued. In 2016, all of these photos became part of a new group. This new group is called the Canadian Photography Institute (CPI). Now, the photos are still cared for and shown at the National Gallery of Canada.
Museum Connections
The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography worked with several other important groups. These included the National Gallery of Canada, the CMA, and the CHIN. It was also connected to the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Canadiense de Fotografía Contemporánea para niños
