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General information

The Australian Centre for Photography (ACP) is the country's leading arts centre for the exhibition and publication of, and education in photo-based practice. It is also the longest running contemporary art space in Australia, with over 35 years of exhibiting experience.

History

ACP was established in 1973 as a place where photographers could exhibit their work and learn about the best in current practice, both nationally and internationally. It opened its first gallery in Paddington Street in 1974 and a workshop facility in a former bakery in 1976. In 1981, the centre moved to its current location on Oxford Street, Paddington when the gallery and workshop came together under an overarching management. Photofile began publication in 1983, first as a community newspaper and later evolving through a theory journal into a magazine of contemporary photomedia and ideas.

In 2004, ACP became a major recipient under the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy when it was identified as one of the leadership organisations in Australian contemporary visual culture. At the end of 2006 ACP completed the purchase of the centre's building and land on which it stands. Meanwhile the areas formerly occupied by a restaurant were redeveloped to create Gallery 3 (a new exhibition/events space) and a reading/video lounge. In 2007 the foyer was remodelled to create Gallery 4 and the entrance was converted for wheelchair access.

Exhibitions

ACP exhibitions have played an important role in identifying and promoting the major artists of Australian photography as well as supporting new practitioners who have, over time, become mainstream national figures. The ACP initiated the first major retrospectives of work by photographers such as Max Dupain, Olive Cotton and Merv Bishop, and organised the early public displays of photographs by Bill Henson, Tracey Moffatt, William Yang and Trent Parke. The Centre has also presented works by international photo-artists such as Bernd & Hilla Becher, Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Larry Clark, Joan Fontcuberta, Nan Goldin, Roni Horn, George Platt Lynes, Ralph Eugene Meatyard, Duane Michals, Pierre Molinier, Erwin Olaf, Martin Parr, Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, Wolfgang Tillmans and William Wegman.

For more information on ACP exhibition program go here

New Media

Increasingly new media have become another focus for the centre. These technologies have not only transformed the commercial photographic industry, but have contributed to a total redefinition of 'the photographic' and the relationship of art and popular culture. The ACP sees its role as facilitating the development of a vocabulary to understand the impact and potential of these technological and cultural changes and to engage the public through both exhibition and education programs.

For more information on ACP video lounge go here

Touring

The ACP is committed to showing Australian photomedia art alongside international work. It also promotes Australian photography overseas through exhibition and artist exchanges, publication and advocacy of Australian work to foreign curators. Touring exhibitions generated by the ACP have travelled to North America, Europe and South and East Asia. The bulk of the Centre's touring exhibitions, however, are shown in regional art galleries, contemporary art spaces, libraries and community venues all over Australia and in New Zealand.

For more information on exhibition touring in your area go here
Venues interested in hiring exhibitions go here

Education

Since 1976 the ACP has operated a community workshop and currently offers public access colour and black & white darkrooms, film processing facility, a fully equipped lighting studio and a digital imaging suite.

The ACP runs over 100 part-time courses for more than 1,200 students annually at many different levels, from basic camera and processing skills to specialist classes in subjects such as architectural photography, documentary practice, portraiture and fashion. Our education program has a reputation for excellence in teaching and courses are conducted by a team of 18 tutors, each an established figure from the photographic industry and arts institutions.

In addition to our regular curriculum ACP runs occasional Master Classes with specialists from Australia and overseas.

For more information on ACP Workshop facilities and courses go here

Publications

Photofile magazine In 1983 the Australian Centre for Photography launched Photofile - Australia's first publicly funded journal of photography. The publication is a vehicle for national debate and new writing around photography. Photofile has developed into a significant Australian magazine with both national and international content. It remains Australia's leading photomedia art magazine. Photofile is published three times a year. It provides representation, promotion and analysis of current practices in Australian photomedia art, ranging from documentary through to new digital technologies and including non-narrative film, video and computer-based work. Coverage is structured around provocative articles, portfolios of artists' work, short opinion pieces and reviews. Photofile is committed to critical writing that is historically and theoretically informed, presented in a stimulating and accessible way. For more information on Photofile go here

Other Publications

The Australian Centre for Photography also publishes catalogues and guides for many of its exhibitions. In 2002 it published Photographica Australis, a catalogue surveying the work of 18 Australian photomedia artists to accompany an exhibition of the same name shown at Sala de Exposiciones del Canal de Isabel II, Madrid for ARCO and subsequently touring. In 2003 the book was reformatted for an Asian market to accompany a revised version of the exhibition which, over the next two years, toured to the National Gallery of Thailand, Singapore Art Museum, 11th Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. For more information on ACP catalogues go here

Funding

The ACP is a not-for-profit organisation, funded jointly by the Australia Council, the Federal Government's arts funding and advisory body, and Arts New South Wales. Since 2004 it has also been in receipt of a major new grant under the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy (a joint Federal, State and Territory initiative) recognising its leading role and international reputation.

The ACP earns half of its own revenue from non-government sources.