1963: CPAC founded in Denver by Eugene Lang (Founder/Chair/First President), Jim Milmoe (Vice President), Glen Thrush (Secretary) and 12 others including Hal Gould, who would go on to become one of the region’s most influential figures in photography.
History
1963: Permanent Collection established with gifts from Yousuf Karsh, Phillippe Halsman, Ansel Adams, and others.
1965: CPAC opens its first gallery space at 1503 E. Colfax Avenue, the first venue in the region dedicated to fostering the art of photography.
1967-72: Non-accredited School of Photography founded.
1972: CPAC moves to 1301 Bannock Street, less than a block from the Denver Art Museum. Program highlights: Philippe Halsman, Paul Strand, and Judy Dater.
1979: Hal Gould, CPAC’s Exhibition Chair, opens Camera Obscura Gallery next door.
1982: Program highlights: Richard Misrach, Patrick Nagatani.
1998: CPAC moves to 1513 Boulder Street in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, sharing space with the Carol Keller Gallery. Seven years of intense activity begins under leadership of R. Skip Kohloff (President) and Lisbeth Neergaard Kohloff (Gallery Coordinator). Program highlights: Jerry Uelsmann, Emmett and Elijah Gowin, Ronald Wohlauer, Susan Goldstein, Sally Stockhold, Betty Hahn.
2006: R. Skip Kohloff retires after 19 years as president. He and his wife, Lis, leave the board, having served 27 and 24 years respectively. CPAC transitions to a center-without-walls run by a volunteer Board of Directors.
2006-2011: Off-site exhibitions include R. Ewing Stiffler restrospective at Roach Photos, and “(REAL): Photographic Constructs” at CVA Metro Gallery, voted “Best of the Year” by Westword.
2011: CPAC merges with Working With Artists (founded by Marsea Wynne, former CPAC Board Member). Moves to WWA facility in Lakewood, operated by paid staff for the first time. Former CPAC Board Chair Rupert Jenkins assumes Executive Director position in January 2012. Program highlights: Vivian Keulards, Ed Kashi, Portfolio Reviews, Laura Shill.
2013 (March): Hal Gould Vision in Photography Award established. First recipient: Mark Sink, along with an honorary award presented to Hal Gould.
2013 (June): CPAC relocates to former gallery space on Boulder Street in Denver.
2013 (July): Program highlights: Picture Me Here exhibition; Tsutomu Yamagata, Developing Dialogs lecture series.
2014: Program highlights: One by One, juried by Eric Paddock; David Taylor and Ignacio Evangelista; Fashion/Culture.
2015: Program highlights: Month of Photography Portfolio Review Weekend; Jessamyn Lovell, Claire A. Warden. Executive Director Rupert Jenkins leaves CPAC.
2016: Samantha Johnston becomes CPAC’s current Executive Director. Shortly after, CPAC moves to Denver’s River North Arts District into Ironton Studios at 3636 Chestnut Street. Program highlights: Phil Toledano, William Sutton and Jon Horvath.
2017: CPAC moves to Denver’s Golden Triangle Creative District at 1070 Bannock Street.