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, our nationally recognized artist-in-residence program, was established in 1999. It is committed to providing direct support to artists who are working with photography and expanding the critical dialogue around diversity, race, and identity in the context of social justice. The one-month residencies allow 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. 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 the former Van Slyke & Horton cigar factory building at 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. The Van Slyke building is being renovated by Lopergolo + Bartling architects as CPW’s future headquarters, a photography museum, educational and community center. Overall rehabilitation of the building is slated for completion by Fall 2027, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Center for Photography at Woodstock.