The University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Breckenridge Barrett as Director.

Breckenridge Barrett has over 20 years of experience in museums, non-profit management, and law. She is currently the Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA), a position she has held since 2013.  Among her many accomplishments, she helped shepherd and produce landmark exhibitions including David Bowie Is, Kerry James Marshall: Mastry, and the recent Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg. 

Breckenridge Barrett was selected through an international search that included input from CCP’s diverse constituents and supporters. She begins her appointment in January 2018. 

“I couldn’t be more delighted,” said R. Brooks Jeffery, Associate Vice President for Research who oversees the University’s three cultural institutions under the University of Arizona’s Research, Discovery, and Innovation office.  “Annie is a dynamic leader with broad experience and a passion to advance CCP to even greater prominence.  CCP is a beloved institution and the search process brought together multiple voices to define CCP’s role in a 21^st century research university and the qualities of engaged leadership to direct it.”

As Director, Breckenridge Barrett will advance CCP’s new strategic roadmap that focuses on increasing the generation of external revenue to ensure its long-term financial sustainability while expanding its impact as a premier institution of American photography.

“I am thrilled to join the Center for Creative Photography and humbled by the appointment,” Breckenridge Barrett said. “The excellence of the CCP’s collection and archive have established it as a leading university cultural institution and research center, and I am inspired by the opportunity to build upon its reputation and create innovative programming that promotes civic engagement while nurturing connections across a thriving university community.

“I am eager to partner with the CCP staff and University colleagues to define the institution’s next chapter and increase visibility and investment to ensure its future. Personally, I am so pleased to concentrate on photography, a medium that has stimulated me throughout my career.”

Breckenridge Barrett holds a Bachelor of Arts in art history from American University, a Master of Arts in visual arts administration from New York University, and a Juris Doctor from Vermont Law School. At the MCA, she has collaborated with colleagues across the institution to achieve multidisciplinary programs and lead contractual negotiations with museums around the country and the world. She counsels internal staff on leadership, accreditation, and best practice. During her tenure, the MCA transformed itself into a twenty-first-century museum in line with its vision to be "artist activated and audience engaged." In addition to a renovation of public spaces to enhance the museum's visitor's opportunities for civic engagement, the MCA launched an award-winning website and new identity, mounted its most successful exhibitions to date, and commissioned world-class artists Chris Ofili and Ernesto Neto to create site-specific works that bring public spaces of the museum to life.  

“The Center for Creative Photography is critical to the University’s research enterprise,” says UA Senior Vice President for Research Kimberly Andrews Espy.  “Annie will lead the way to realize our goals to better connect CCP to our academic programs, faculty, students and communities as a crucible for research and engagement.  She’s a collaborator and will work with the other University museums and centers to position UA as an international arts and culture destination.”

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The University of Arizona’s Center for Creative Photography (CCP) is the premier research collection of American photographic fine art and archives, promoting creative inquiry, dialogue, and appreciation of photography’s enduring cultural influence.  Established in 1975, CCP’s collections include some of the most recognizable names in 20th century North American photography: Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock, Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Frederick Sommer, W. Eugene Smith, Lola Alvarez Bravo, Edward Weston, and Garry Winogrand.  The Center is one of three University of Arizona arts and cultural institutions that report to the office of Research, Discovery & Innovation as part of the University’s interdisciplinary arts, culture and society academic enterprise.