When Camera Club of New York, one of the city’s oldest continuously operating cultural organizations, made its move downtown last winter, it also took on a new identity. 

Starting with a new name, Baxter Street at Camera Club of New York, CCNY emphasizes its downtown location, to underscore its commitment to fostering emerging contemporary lens-based artists and bringing their work to the attention to devotees of photography.

Its new headquarters, located on a residential street just north of Chinatown and close to Lower East Side galleries, is designed to support artists at work, through exhibitions, workspace residencies, visiting artist lectures and discussions.  

Baxter Street at Camera Club of New York; photo courtesy CCNY.

What makes CCNY unique on the photography landscape of NYC is that it’s a membership organization first, its programs designed to further the art practice of its members. And it’s an artist-operated organization, with a staff and board consisting of working photographers and artists, supported by an advisory board of professionals in finance and communications. I met with CCNY Director, Libby Pratt, and Co-President, Michi Jigarjian, earlier this year, to find out what sets CCNY apart.

First, membership, through portfolio review, is offered at two levels: Resident (one year, renewable) and Associate (three-months, renewable), including use of ICP Darkrooms and/or CCNY digital workspace and access to lectures, workshops, and community-building programs.  

The 2014 Zine and Self-Published Photo Book Fair; photo courtesy CCNY.

The artist-directed exhibition program offers 4 shows each year organized by guest curators who are selected through an open call. Each show spotlights work by 1 to 5 emerging artists; guest curators are selected by a committee made up of CCNY board members, most of whom are working photographers, several of whom also teach in photo programs. In addition, CCNY presents 4 3-week exhibitions each year featuring work by Workshop Residents. 

At the 2014 Benefit Auction, with co-curators Elisabeth Biondi and Allen Frame.

In addition, CCNY supports an annual Zine Fest, a Benefit Auction (to be held again this fall at Affirmation Arts), and a Limited Edition Prints program, now in its second year, and an invitational Guest Blogger. The programs of CCNY are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts, the Jerome Foundation, Fujifilm, and Kodak.

Currently on view, through April 26, is work by 2014 Workspace Resident, Patricia Voulgaris: Hiding in Plain Sight. Baxter Street at CCNY, 126 Baxter Street, NY, NY. Information.