Centre for Contemporary Photography facts for kids
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| Former name | Victorian Centre for Photography |
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| Established | 1986 |
| Location | 404 George Street, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia |
The Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP) is a special place in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's a gallery where you can see amazing modern art made with cameras. The CCP helps people enjoy, learn about, and understand photography and other art forms that use photos.
Contents
The Story of CCP
How CCP Started
The CCP began in 1986. It was first called the Victorian Centre for Photography (VCP). It was created by people who loved photography, following an idea from Bernie O’Regan. Their first gallery was a small shop in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne. The VCP received money from the government to help it grow.
Growing and Changing
Over time, the VCP grew from a small local group to a place that showed art from all over Australia and even other countries. A big project was an exhibition called The Thousand Mile Stare. This show traveled around Australia from 1988 to 1989 and became very important for understanding Australian photography from that time.
In the early 1990s, the VCP moved to a bigger building in Fitzroy. Soon after, it changed its name to the Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP). This new name showed that it focused on modern photography. In 2005, the CCP moved again to a specially designed building on George Street in Fitzroy.
Supporting Photo Art
The CCP is a not-for-profit group. This means it uses all its money to support photo-based arts and help people connect with photography. Many famous artists have shown their work at the CCP. These include Leah King-Smith, Gregory Crewdson, Patricia Piccinini, and others. The CCP shows many types of art. This includes fine art, Indigenous photography, and traditional styles like portraits and documentary photos. It also supports new digital art and video.
Recent Challenges and Changes
In July 2016, the CCP celebrated its 30th birthday. They held an exhibition called From Silver Gelatin to Instagram: Celebrating 30 Years of the CCP. This show helped raise money because the CCP had lost some of its government funding.
The CCP continued to receive grants from Creative Victoria and Creative Australia for several years. However, these grants ended in 2022 and 2024. Because of this, the CCP had to move from its George Street location. It moved to a smaller "Project Space" in the Collingwood Yards arts area. The main gallery was closed for a while in 2025. However, a new exhibition was announced to open in June 2025, in partnership with RMIT Gallery.
Who Runs CCP?
Leaders of the Centre
The CCP has had several directors who help lead the organization. These leaders guide the exhibitions and programs. Some of the past directors include Deborah Ely, Susan Fereday, and Naomi Cass. The current director, since 2022, is Daniel Boetker-Smith.
The Board of Management
A group of people called the Board of Management helps oversee the CCP. They make important decisions about how the centre is run. The current Chair of the Board is Patrick Pound.
What You Can See and Do
Exhibitions and Shows
The CCP has five different spaces where it shows art. One special space is the Night Projection Window. You can see art projected there from 9 pm to 2 am! The CCP shows many different kinds of photo art. You can see work from new artists and very famous ones. They show art from local artists, as well as those from other parts of Australia and around the world.
The CCP also holds an event called the CCP Salon. This is a competition where photographers can enter their work. There are many prizes to win, and visitors can even vote for their favorite photos. The best part is that it's free to visit the CCP! In 2017, nearly 93,000 people visited the gallery.
Learning at CCP
The CCP offers ways for people to learn more about photography. After new exhibitions open, the artists often give talks. They share stories about their work and ideas. The CCP also has photography courses where you can learn practical skills. They also host public lectures with famous speakers who talk about photography and art.
See also
- Australian Centre for Photography
- Queensland Centre for Photography
- Brummels Gallery
- The Photographers' Gallery and Workshop
- Church Street Centre for Photography
