Center for Photography at Woodstock

**MISSION** *CPW is a vital hub for dialogue and discovery in photography and related media, bringing together a diverse array of artists and a vibrant community with a strong artistic tradition. Through its programs, CPW fosters opportunities to create and explore photography, and celebrate its role in contemporary culture.* **BRIEF HISTORY** The Center for Photography at Woodstock was founded in February 1977 by photographers Howard Greenberg and Michael Feinberg. Nestled within the rural environs of Woodstock, home to one of the nation’s longest-running artist colonies, the organization was intended as a gathering place for local photographers. It was initially called the Catskill Center for Photography, and it opened with a series of workshops and an exhibition of works by Walker Evans and Paul Strand. Over the next four decades, the Center for Photography at Woodstock established a distinguished record as an organization that connected photographers with engaging exhibitions, learning and printing facilities, lectures and panels, and a photography library and collection. Community-based and collaborative programming is at the heart of CPW’s mission. Through its educational programs and community outreach, CPW brings together artists and viewers of all ages and fosters opportunities for them to create photography and explore its role in contemporary culture. [Woodstock AIR](https://cpw.org/resources/artist-residencies/), our nationally recognized artist-in-residence program, was established in 1999. It is committed to providing direct support to artists of color working with photography. The one-month residencies allow the photographers the time and space to break new ground, complete ongoing projects, and advance their artistic vision within an environment that has inspired artists for over a century. In 2017, CPW was able to purchase an artist house in Woodstock with living space and an artist studio to serve as the base for the residency and visiting artist programs. To date, over 150 artists have participated, including LaToya Ruby Frazier, Deana Lawson, and Paul Mpagi Sepuya. In 2022, CPW relocated from Woodstock to Kingston, NY, where it operates galleries at 474 Broadway and 25 Dederick Street. A key inducement behind this move to Kingston was the desire to serve more artists and partner with like-minded cultural institutions. CPW aims to meet the needs of emerging artistic voices and to effect social change through innovative public events, engaging social media, stimulating courses and workshops, and provocative exhibitions and publications.