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Tuesday 11am - 5pm Wednesday 11am - 5pm Thursday 11am - 5pm Friday 11am - 5pm Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Colorado Photographic Arts Center

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Colorado Photographic Arts Center

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The Colorado Photographic Arts Center is a non-profit organization supporting the photographic arts. All of our exhibitions are free and open to the public.

The Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC) is the only nonprofit organization in Denver dedicated exclusively to the art of photography. Founded in 1963, we serve as a resource center where photographers can learn new skills, pursue their artistic vision, build community, and seek inspiration and creative growth. CPAC hosts 7-10 high-quality exhibitions each year that showcase the finest examples of contemporary photography from local and national artists. We offer classes and workshops year-round at affordable rates, taught by a faculty of established artists and industry professionals. We offer resources for artists, including a darkroom and digital lab. Finally, we organize more than 50 events each year to engage the broader Denver community, including artist talks, gallery openings, Final Fridays, workshops, and the Month of Photography Denver Festival. Learn more about our organization by visiting cpacphoto.org.

10/28/2026

It's time to get ready for another Photo Swap! Whether you have prints lying around ready to find a new home, or new work to show off - bring it to the CPAC Gallery on November 7th.
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The Photo Swap is a free, community event⁠. Bring a print (or a few) and swap them with fellow photographers. ⁠This is a great way to collect new work, share your own, and connect with the community!⁠!⁠

In collaboration with Denver Photo Swap and Not Another Film Lab. ⁠
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▸ When: Saturday, November 7th⁠, 2pm-4pm⁠
▸ Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center ⁠
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Image Credit: Rae Scott

10/27/2026

Learn the magic of black and white film development in our hands-on darkroom workshop, How to Develop Black and White Film!

Designed for students of all levels, this course will guide you through the entire process of developing black and white film—from loading your reel to hanging your negatives to dry. You’ll gain a solid understanding of the materials and chemistry involved, explore popular black and white film stocks, and learn how to create well-exposed images in-camera to get the most out of your negatives.

When: Sunday, November 15th, 1pm-4pm
Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center, 1200 Lincoln Street, Suite 111
Instructor: Em Warnock

Sign up here!
https://cpacphoto.org/bwfilm-nov-2026/

Image Credit: Em Warnock

10/26/2026

Denver Photo Swap IS BACK AT CO Photographic Arts Center
November 7th at 2p! :)

See you there!

10/26/2026

There are a few spots left in our workshop The Confident Photographer: Seeing, Composing, and Exposing with Intention!

Build confidence behind the camera by learning how to see, compose, and create stronger photographs through hands-on instruction and guided photo walk experiences in downtown Denver.

▸ When: Sundays, November 1st–22nd, 1pm-3pm
▸ Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center, 1200 Lincoln Street, Suite 111
▸ Instructor: Mark Payler
▸ Level: Beginner

Sign up here:
https://cpacphoto.org/the-confident-photographer-seeing-composing-and-exposing-with-intention-november-1st-22nd/

Image Credit: Mark Payler

10/25/2026

Join us this Tuesday, October 27 at 5:30pm for an in-person panel discussion in the gallery examining the ethics of representation in documentary photography.

Inspired by Mary Ellen Mark’s Indian Circus, photographer Ron Cooper and multidisciplinary artist Bala Thiagarajan will join CPAC Executive Director & Curator Samantha Johnston for a conversation about how photographers represent people, places, and communities, and the responsibilities that come with that work.

▸ When: Tuesday, October 27 at 5:30pm⁠
▸ Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center, 1200 Lincoln Street, Suite 111⁠
▸ Cost: FREE⁠

Image Credit: Contortionist with Sweety the Puppy, Raj Kamal Circus, Upleta, India, 1989 ©Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of The Mary Ellen Mark Foundation/Howard Greenberg Gallery

10/24/2026

Join us for our new workshop, The Art of Food Photography, taught by Chelsea Chorpenning, in Collaboration with the Art Students League of Denver!

Food has the power to tell stories, preserve traditions, and bring people together. Learn how to use light, styling, composition, and storytelling to create compelling food photographs. Through demonstrations, hands-on practice, and personalized critique, participants will gain the confidence to photograph food for personal projects, family recipes, cookbooks, blogs, social media, or possible exhibition opportunities.

Presented in collaboration with the Art Students League of Denver, this workshop offers participants the opportunity to create new work for possible submission to ASLD’s upcoming Foodtography exhibition.

When: Saturday & Sunday, November 14th & 15th, 10am-2pm
Where: Art Students League of Denver, 200 N Grant St, Denver, CO
Instructor: Chelsea Chorpenning

Register here: https://cpacphoto.org/the-art-of-food-photography/
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Image Credit: Chelsea Chorpenning

10/23/2026

Join us Tuesday, October 27th at 5:30pm for an in-person panel discussion in the gallery examining the ethics of representation in documentary photography.

Inspired by Mary Ellen Mark’s Indian Circus, photographer Ron Cooper and multidisciplinary artist Bala Thiagarajan will join CPAC Executive Director & Curator Samantha Johnston for a conversation about how photographers represent people, places, and communities - and the responsibilities that come with that work.

▸ When: Tuesday, October 27th at 5:30pm
▸ Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center, 1200 Lincoln Street, Suite 111

Image Credit: Acrobats Practicing at Famous Circus. Calcutta, 1989 ©Mary Ellen Mark, courtesy of The Mary Ellen Mark Foundation/Howard Greenberg Gallery

10/21/2026

We have a special PhotoVox coming up next month: In-Person Print Share!

A selection of local artists will print prints to share, welcoming conversation and feedback from the community.

▸ When: Wednesday, November 11th, 6:30pm
▸ Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center
▸ Cost: Free for members, $10 for nonmembers

Image Credit: From the Hip Photo

10/19/2026

Get comfortable using CPAC’s digital lab in this beginner-friendly crash course led by Frank Varney!⁠

This three-hour, in-person workshop is designed for photographers who are curious about CPAC’s digital lab, but want more guidance than the standard orientation provides. Rather than functioning as a full deep dive into fine art printing, this class offers a short, approachable introduction to the lab’s equipment, workflow, printing process and the Canon Professional Print and Layout software CPAC uses to Print from its Canon Pro-100 and Pro 2100 printers.

Class size is limited to 3 participants to allow for individualized instruction and printing time. Register early to secure your spot!
⁠
When: Saturday, December 12th, 1pm-4pm
Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center

https://cpacphoto.org/digital-lab-crash-course-printing-basics-and-orientation-december-12th/
⁠
Image Credit: Frank Varney

10/18/2026

We are offering our workshop 'How to Develop Black & White Film' specifically for teens!

Designed for high school students in grades 9–12, this hands-on workshop introduces the process of shooting and developing black-and-white film in CPAC’s darkroom.

Students will begin by learning how to load a 35mm film camera, properly set their ISO, and make well-exposed photographs. The class will then head out on a short photo walk, giving students the opportunity to expose their roll of black-and-white film.

Back in the darkroom, students will learn the complete film-development process—from loading film onto a reel and preparing chemistry to developing, washing, and hanging negatives to dry.

▸ When: Sunday, November 1st, 1pm-4pm.
▸ Where: Colorado Photographic Arts Center
▸ Instructor: Em Warnock

Register here:
https://cpacphoto.org/teensonly-bwfilm/

Address

1200 Lincoln Street, Suite 111
Denver, CO
80203

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 5pm
Wednesday	11am - 5pm
Thursday	11am - 5pm
Friday	11am - 5pm
Saturday	12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+13038371341

Website

http://www.cpacphoto.org/

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