International Center of Photography facts for kids
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International Center of Photography at 79 Essex Street
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| Established | 1974 |
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| Location | 79 Essex Street, Manhattan, New York |
| Public transit access | Bus: M21, M103 Subway:   at Second Avenue |
The International Center of Photography (ICP) is a cool place in New York City where you can see amazing photos and learn all about photography! It's like a museum and a school rolled into one. You can find it on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. ICP also has a huge collection of photos and old documents in Jersey City, New Jersey. A famous photographer named Cornell Capa started ICP in 1974.
ICP is also known for its Infinity Awards. These awards started in 1985. They celebrate the best photographers and help new talented artists get noticed.
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The Story of ICP
Since it began in 1974, ICP has shown over 500 exhibitions. These shows have featured the work of more than 3,000 photographers and artists. ICP also offers many classes and workshops for students who want to learn photography.
How ICP Started
ICP was created to keep a special kind of photography alive. This was called "Concerned Photography." It focused on showing important human stories and events. Cornell Capa, the founder, wanted to honor his brother, Robert Capa, and other friends who were photographers. They had passed away too soon.
Cornell Capa felt it was important to keep their powerful documentary work visible to everyone. So, in 1966, he started the International Fund for Concerned Photography. By 1974, this fund needed a permanent home, and that's how the International Center of Photography was born!
Moving and Growing
Over the years, ICP moved to different locations to grow. In 1999, its original building was sold. ICP then moved to a bigger space at 1133 Avenue of the Americas. This new spot opened in 2000 and had lots of gallery space for exhibitions. It also had a bigger store and a café.
In 2001, the ICP school also expanded. It moved to a large facility across the street from the museum. This new school building doubled the teaching space. It allowed ICP to offer even more programs and reach out to the community.
Finding a New Home
In 2014, ICP decided to move again. They planned to buy a building on the Bowery in downtown Manhattan. The museum closed its Midtown location in January 2015. The new museum on the Bowery opened in June 2016.
Later, in 2017, ICP made a deal to bring both its museum and school together. They moved to Essex Crossing on the Lower East Side. In 2019, ICP bought its current home at 79 Essex Street.
In January 2020, ICP opened its new, combined center. This building has galleries, media labs, classrooms, and even darkrooms for developing film! It also has shooting studios, a shop, a café, and a research library. This new space is a major cultural spot in the big Essex Crossing area.
The ICP School
The ICP school helps over 3,500 students every year. It offers many different classes. You can learn everything from old-school darkroom techniques to advanced photography programs. They even have master's degree programs!
The school also hosts talks by professional photographers. These events help students and the public learn new ideas and skills. In 2023, Colette Veasey-Cullors became the Dean and Deputy Director of the school. She is an educator, artist, and photographer.
The school and museum are now together in one place. This unified center is on Manhattan's Lower East Side at 84 Ludlow Street.
Public Programs
ICP offers public programs that explore photography. These programs look at how photography connects to art, culture, and society. They help people understand ICP's exhibitions and collections better. The Photographers Lecture Series invites photographers to share their work and ideas. Other events include seminars and discussions with artists and historians.
Community Programs
ICP also has programs for the community. These often connect to the current exhibitions. They include fun, interactive tours and family day events. ICP also runs long-term photography programs in New York City public schools. They offer summer photography programs in community centers. There's even a high school internship program to help young people become leaders.
Infinity Awards
The ICP hosts the Infinity Awards. These awards started in 1985. They celebrate amazing achievements in photography. The awards honor photographers who have had great careers. They also help discover new, talented artists.
ICP's Photo Collection
The permanent collection at ICP has over 200,000 photographs. It also includes other related items. These range from the very first types of photography to modern digital pictures. Since 1974, ICP has collected important historical and contemporary images. Many photographers and collectors have also donated their work.
The collection is especially strong in documentary photography. This includes photos from America and Europe from the 1930s to the 1990s. It features large collections by famous photographers like W. Eugene Smith, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Robert Capa. More recent additions include work by contemporary photographers like Carrie Mae Weems and Susan Meiselas.
The collection also has many photographically illustrated magazines. These include famous ones like Life and Picture Post. Many of these magazines were published between World War I and World War II.
Since 2015, ICP's collection has been housed at Mana Contemporary. This large space has the permanent collection, a media lab, research areas, and a gallery.
The ICP Library
The ICP Library is a great resource for learning about photography. It helps over 6,000 visitors each year. The library provides information and books for ICP staff, visitors, and researchers. As of 2008, the library had about 20,000 books and 2,000 files. You can look through these materials on-site.
You can search for library materials using ICP's online catalog.
The GEH–ICP Alliance
In 2000, ICP teamed up with George Eastman House (GEH). This partnership is called the GEH–ICP Alliance. Their main goal is to help people understand and enjoy photography more. They do this through exhibitions, books, research, and sharing their collections. They even had a joint website called Photomuse.org.
Through this teamwork, ICP and George Eastman House share resources and knowledge. They also combine their collections for special exhibitions. These shows are called "New Histories of Photography."
See also
In Spanish: Centro Internacional de Fotografía para niños
