About CCP

Founded in 1975 by photographer Ansel Adams and the University of Arizona’s then-president, Dr. John P. Schaefer, the Center for Creative Photography is the largest institution in North America devoted to the research and exhibition of photography. Beginning with the archives of five photographers—Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, and Frederick Sommer—today, the CCP stewards more than three hundred archival collections of photographers, scholars, galleries, authors, and organizations, complemented by unparalleled holdings of some 120,000 fine prints and an extensive oral history collection. The Center prioritizes collection preservation and access through the work of its Arthur J. Bell Conservation Lab and digital imaging unit; the CCP also owns and manages copyrights for a selection of archive artists and supports licensing and image file delivery to publishers, authors, educators, artists, and filmmakers worldwide. As part of the University of Arizona and in service to its land-grant mission, the Center maintains a robust calendar of free exhibitions and programs for the public, serves students and faculty through curricular engagements, and awards several international research fellowships annually.

Mission

Our mission is to bring new and deeper meaning to the ever-changing and experimental field of photography through building, preserving, and sharing our unparalleled collection of archives and photographs. Situated on the campus of a public research university, we create, commission, and collaborate on original research and artistic expression that explores the evolution of the medium.

Land Acknowledgement

We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Today, Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O’odham and the Yaqui. The University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.