Center for Creative Photography - Tucson Arizona

The University of Arizona's Center for Creative Photography

Center for Creative Photography

About the CCP

The Center for Creative Photography sits on The University of Arizona. It is located at 1030 N. Olive Road and sits among some of the most creative and artistic schools on campus. The School of Architecture is next door, the School of Fine Arts, Marroney Theatre, and the School of Music are all across the street. The Center for Creative Photography is one of the world’s leading museums of modern American photography. It collects and manages materials essential to understanding photography and its history. Through its archives, collections, education programs, exhibitions, and publications the CCP promotes research and appreciation of photography while preserving original pieces for posterity. The CCP houses over 90,000 works by more than 2,000 photographers. In all, there are over five million objects in the collection, which include books, journals, rare publications, and an oral history collection.

Notable Collections Include:

Ansel Adams Archive – The largest collection of Ansel Adams' original prints, negatives, and letters, offering insight into his creative process.

Contemporary Acquisitions – Includes works by Carrie Mae Weems, Cindy Sherman, and Laura Aguilar, expanding representation in photographic history.

Edward Weston & Sonya Noskowiak – Featuring early 20th-century modernist photography with a focus on form and texture.

Marian Post Wolcott & Dorothea Lange – Documentary photography from the Great Depression and beyond.

The CCP has an extensive site as well (https://ccp.arizona.edu/collections?). Here the CCP's fine print catalog can be viewed, as well as records and images of some of the Center’s collection of art objects.

Entrance to CCP

In 2016 the Center for Creative Photography was selected by The Culture Trip website as one of Tucson's Top 10 Art Galleries and Museums. The Culture Trip stated, “In addition to being an unmatched resource for the photography historian, the CCP also puts on captivating exhibitions for the amateur fan. Expect to see some of the biggest names of this creative medium, accompanied by informative materials and framed by skilled curation.”

The first floor of the Center for Creative Photography is home to a 240 seat auditorium, gift store, and gallery. The entrance to the building takes you to a lobby area with tables and chairs that can be used for study or conversation. It is in this area there is also a small gift shop right next to the Information Desk. The gift shop has a variety of books related to photography and unique postcards available for purchase. The counter of the gift shop also serves as the information desk where the staff is available to answer any questions a visitor might have about the CCP. At the rear of the first floor, next to the stairs that lead to the study center, is a quiet area with comfortable chairs. This secluded area can be used for studying, discussion or just relaxing.

CCP Gift Shop and Information Desk

A glass door to the right of the information desk serves as the entrance to a climate controlled gallery. The heavy door opens to a surprisingly large, sparse, and exquisite gallery with easy traffic flow between rooms. The gallery displays changing exhibitions that feature modern and contemporary photographs. This space is also used for special events.

CCP Gallery

The second floor houses the Laura Volkerding Study Center, named in honor of the artist from Louisville, Kentucky. Volkerding began a career in drawing, weaving, and prints but switched to photography 1972. She became a lecturer in photography at Stanford University and received fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the Prix de Paris, and the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France. The Center for Creative Photography published her book, Solomon’s Temple: The European Building-Crafts Legacy in 1996. The Study Center is used for research and study of the CCP's archives, rare books, reference materials, and oral histories. This space is available by appointment only.

In an effort to promote new knowledge about photography, photography history and photography theory, the CCP offers several fellowships and internships. Information is available here.

Current Exhbition in the CCP Gallery

The Louis Carlos Bernal: Retrospectiva is currently running from September 14, 2024, to March 15, 2025. This exhibition showcases approximately 125 photographs by pioneering Chicanx photographer Louis Carlos Bernal. The focus is on his portrayals of Mexican American communities in Tucson and the broader Southwest.

A special section of the CCP Gallery is dedicated to audience engagement, inviting visitors to share their experiences and reflections on Bernal's photographs. This space encourages discussion and personal storytelling, allowing guests to contribute to the living history and interpretation of Bernal’s work.IMG_2172 2 3.heic IMG_2173 2.heic

Area visitors wrote refelctions for Bernal's photographs

Major Donations and Endowments

In September 2024, the CCP received an anonymous $1 million donation to establish an endowment supporting interdisciplinary exhibitions and programming in the Alice Chaiten Baker Interdisciplinary Gallery. This generous contribution aims to foster innovative collaborations across various artistic and academic disciplines.

In 2021, the CCP created an endowment with the goal of expanding its collection by purchasing pieces from artists that have been underrepresented in the past. The Endowment for Diversifying the Collection reflects the Center's commitment to expanding the history of photography and generating new discourse that mirrors the rich variety of our communities.

Named after the CCP's founding director and his wife (Harold Jones and Frances Murray), The Harold Jones and Frances Murray Endowment supports various Center activities, including acquisitions, exhibitions, and educational programs. It serves as a lasting tribute to their contributions and dedication to the field of photography.

History of the CCP

Master photographer Ansel Adams was the impetus behind the creation of the Center for Creative Photography. As early as 1935, Adams had realized the importance of centers dedicated to research in photography. His idea was to preserve and protect photographs and make them available for use in public education. Adams idea would not come to fruition for another 40 years. In the early 1970s, he approached the California Library system about housing his collection. The libraries turned him down, saying they were not set up for photo archiving and did not have the funding to do what was necessary to preserve the collection the way he envisioned. In 1974, Adams was asked by University of Arizona and then-president John Schaeffer, an avid photographer who admired Adam’s work, to present a one-man show at the University Of Arizona Museum Of Art. It was during their meeting at the exhibit that the idea for the Center for Creative Photography emerged.

Schaeffer approached Adams with the suggestion of archiving his collection at the University of Arizona. Adams was interested but wanted to include the works of fellow photographers. The talks continued, and it was decided the collection would become a part of the special collections section of the new library that was being built by the university. It was an immediate success. In the first year, five archives were committed - Ansel Adams , Wynn Bullock, Aaron Siskind , Fred Sommer, and Harry Callahan. In the next few years, 60 other important names in photographic history were added to the collection. The Center quickly outgrew the library, and funds were raised it the late 1980s to construct the current facility, designed precisely for the Center’s needs.

CCP Core Values

Recently the Center for Creative Photography decided to include a set of core values for their staff. The goal of these values is to show what the CCP stands for and what defines them as an institution. These values are here to represent the future projects they have planned and to ensure long term success.

Legacy

Excellence

Integrity

Collaboration

Diversity

Stewardship

Learning

Access

Supporting the CCP

Those interested in supporting the Center for Creative Photography can become a member. The CCP even offers free memberships to students of the University. The Harold Jones & Frances Murray Endowment is a research fellowship that encourages research projects for photographers whose archives are displayed at the CCP. More information and donation information can be found here.

Visit the CCP

The Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road, is open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with free admission. The Laura Volkerding Study Center is available by appointment only.

Parking is available at the Park Avenue Garage.

Guided Tours

Available every Saturday at 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM, led by CCP curators.

Follow the CCP

Keep up to date on the Center for Creative Photography and events by following their socials:

Instagram- @cntrforcreativephoto

Facebook

X- https://x.com/ccp_uarizona-

Sources:

https://ccp.arizona.edu/

http://www.creativephotography.org/

http://photowings.org/doug-nickel-former-director-of-the-center-for-creative-photography/