Centre for Contemporary Photography

About

The Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP), in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria, is a venue for the exhibition of contemporary photo-based arts, providing a context for the enjoyment, education, understanding and appraisal of contemporary practice.

Established in 1986 as the Victorian Centre for Photography (VCP) by representatives of the photographic community on advice of Bernie O’Regan (1938–1996) who completed a study of its feasibility in the previous year, the VCP's first space was a shopfront on Rathdowne Street in Carlton, an inner suburb of Melbourne. It was supported by funding from the Victorian Ministry for the Arts and from the Australia Council for the Arts and issued an irregular newsletter to members. The organisation developed from a small community operation for local photographers and developed to encompass photographers Australia-wide and international in its program of exhibitions and publications. A major contribution was the survey exhibition and publication The Thousand Mile Stare which toured the nation 1988 to 1989 which has become a reference point in the late twentieth history of Australian photography.

VCP moved to larger quarters at 205 Johnston Street, Fitzroy and shortly after changed its name to Centre for Contemporary Photography in the early 1990s to reflect its contemporary orientation. In 2005, CCP relocated to 404 George Street, Fitzroy, in purpose-designed premises by Sean Godsell Architects.

As a not-for-profit exhibition and resource centre, CCP has played a role in the support of photo-based arts across its spectrum and public engagement with photography. Major artists who have exhibited at CCP include Leah King-Smith, Gregory Crewdson, Robert Rooney, Kohei Yoshiyuki, Taryn Simon, Jane Burton, John Stezaker and Patricia Piccinini. As well as extensively showcasing contemporary fine art, its exhibitions are inclusive of indigenous photography, traditional genres such as portraiture, documentary and photojournalism in particular through its Leica/CCP Documentary Photography Award, pioneering digital imaging and video

The organisation celebrated its 30th year in July 2016 with an exhibition From Silver Gelatin to Instagram: Celebrating 30 Years of the CCP of work donated from prominent Australian photographers to raise funds after it became one of 62 arts institutions to lose federal funding, prior to which it received forty percent of its total income from the State of Victoria through Creative Victoria and the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council and further support through the Visual Arts and Crafts Strategy, an initiative of the Australian and State and Territory Governments, with the remainder self-generated through membership and initiatives including an annual fundraiser exhibition of a work or suite of images donated by significant Australian artists.

The CCP was funded by a Creative Victoria multi-year grant terminating in 2022, and one from Creative Australia that ceased in 2024. Loss of this state and federal funding forced a relocation from George Street to a small ‘Project Space’ in the Collingwood Yards arts precinct, after which the gallery has remained closed in 2025, with the launch of a new exhibition in collaboration with RMIT Gallery announced for June 2025.

- Daniel Boetker-Smith 2022 -present. Volunteers who have since moved into or contributed significantly to the field include the art historian Professor Daniel Palmer, now Associate Dean, Research and Innovation the School of Art, RMIT University ; Michelle Mountain now Exhibition Manager and Curator at TarraWarra Museum of Art ; and Pippa Milne, now Senior Curator at Monash Gallery of Art.

The CCP is overseen by a Board of Management, currently Patrick Pound (Chair), Michael McCormack (Dep. Chair), Nicole Bradshaw (Treasurer), Myles Russell-Cook, Isobel Crombie, Ying Ang, Neil Hugh Kenna, Hoda Afshar, Mark Simpson.

- Daniel Boetker-Smith 2022 -present. Volunteers who have since moved into or contributed significantly to the field include the art historian Professor Daniel Palmer, now Associate Dean, Research and Innovation the School of Art, RMIT University ; Michelle Mountain now Exhibition Manager and Curator at TarraWarra Museum of Art ; and Pippa Milne, now Senior Curator at Monash Gallery of Art.

The CCP is overseen by a Board of Management, currently Patrick Pound (Chair), Michael McCormack (Dep. Chair), Nicole Bradshaw (Treasurer), Myles Russell-Cook, Isobel Crombie, Ying Ang, Neil Hugh Kenna, Hoda Afshar, Mark Simpson.

CCP's exhibition program is presented across five exhibition spaces, including the Night Projection Window, viewed from 9 pm to 2 am, and includes a diverse range of photo-based arts from emerging to established artists. The program includes individual, group and curated exhibitions representing local, interstate and international photography, from emerging and established artists, as well as curators and writers. Its CCP Salon, with sponsors including Leica and Ilford, is an open-entry competition for more than $20,000 worth of prizes over 23 categories, and visitors are invited to vote. Admission to CCP is free. In 2017 there were 92,898 visitors to the Fitzroy venue.

CCP presents Artist Floor Talks by exhibiting artists each Saturday following exhibition openings. CCP also presents education programs including practical photography courses, and annual series of public lectures; past speakers have included Geoffrey Batchen, Martin Parr and Victor Burgin.

In April 2009, CCP began publishing Flash, a quarterly online journal. Flash includes reviews, interviews and commentary on photography and video in Australia by a diverse group of established and emerging writers. Edited from 2010 to 2015 by Kyla McFarlane, Flash is a free journal.

The centre has published the following catalogues and books:

- Koop, Stuart & CCP (Fitzroy, Vic.) (1992). Shot. CCP, Fitzroy

- CCP (1993). Immortality : a re-examination of the hero : 7 April to 9 May 1993, CCP Melbourne. The Centre, Melbourne

- CCP (1993). Please allow me to introduce myself... : 15 May -13 June 1993, an exhibition of video installations. CCP, Fitzroy, [Vic.]

- Tyndall, Peter & Stokes, Christine & Courier (Ballarat, Vic.) & CCP (1993). Photos from the Courier, collected by Peter Tyndall : CCP, Fitzroy 3065, 18 June - 18 July 1993.

- Fereday, Susan, 1959- & CCP & NETS Victoria (1993). Arranging nature : Elizabeth Butler, Gillian Dallwitz, Naomi Kumar, Donna Larcom, Tony Nott, James Packer, June Savage. CCP, Fitzroy, Vic.

- Stoney, Elisabeth & Green, Janina (1993). Home hygiene : filth and transfiguration. Mac Advice, Melbourne, Vic.