named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Arts Education Programs
Workshops and classes for all ages, including specialized courses like Anthotypes at Groundwork Market Garden and architectural photography tours, promoting experimental and traditional photographic techniques.
CEPA Artist Facilities
Open-access community darkroom, digital photo lab, and photo studio available for rent to members and the public, supporting photographic production across analog and digital formats.
Exhibitions and Public Art
Three gallery spaces hosting rotating exhibitions of contemporary photography and visual arts, featuring local, national, and international artists, with free public access.
Odyssey Workshops
Year-long collaborative photography project for combat veterans, supporting their artistic expression and reintegration through image-making, culminating in publications and exhibitions.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Youth Photography Education 1 activity
- Delivering arts education and youth engagement programsOffers hands-on photography education through a mobile darkroom program for youth and community members, teaching scientific principles, patience, problem-solving, and experimentation through traditional photography techniques. Also conducts workshops, tours, and collaborative projects at sites like the Richardson Olmsted Campus and Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Operating public galleries with changing exhibitions and eventsOperates three galleries in downtown Buffalo, including FLUX Gallery, that host changing exhibits and events featuring contemporary art and Western New York artists. The galleries are free and open to the public to increase accessibility to the arts.
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Community Makerspace Access and Training 1 activity
- Providing access to photography facilities and labsProvides community access to a black-and-white darkroom with 12 workstations, a digital photo lab with ten iMacs and Adobe Creative Cloud, and a professional photo studio space. Equipment supports film formats up to 4×5 inches and print creation up to 20×24 inches.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Publishing photographic books and exhibition catalogsProduces and publishes full-color photographic books and catalogs, including a 222-page catalog for the "Felicific Calculus" exhibition, a hardcover collection of Biff Henrich’s architectural photography, and a 176-page book featuring work by combat veterans from a year-long collaborative project.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Running a year-long student mentorship program in photographyOffers a comprehensive mentorship program for students aged 15–22 that includes weekly one-on-one mentoring, group critiques, workshops, artist talks, and unlimited access to CEPA facilities. Students produce and exhibit a self-directed project, participate for free, receive cameras upon completion, and have paid opportunities to assist with outreach and classes.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Integrating artist-run programming through organizational mergerMerged with Big Orbit Project Space in 2013, incorporating its artist-run programming focused on contemporary art and support for Western New York artists into CEPA’s operations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$424K
Contributions & grants$352K83%
Program service revenue$72K17%
Investment income$5030%
Other revenue$108
expenses
Total expenses$526K
Program expenses56%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising13%
Salaries & benefits$264K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$652K
Cash$171K
Investments$0
Liabilities$229K
Net assets$423K
Liquid reserves3.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -7.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Hickey | Executive Director | 40 | $57K |
board members · 14
- Atina Fareed-Cooke — Director
- Brandon Watson — Director
- Cristin L Murray — Director
- Doug Levere — Secretary
- Douglas Levere — Director
- Eric Kunsman — Director
- Jordan Lema — Director
- Kim Sholly — Director
- Laura O'Neill — President
- Melissa Grainger — Director
- Morgan Tanski — Treasurer
- Quincy Miracle — Director
- Rachel Good — Director
- Valerie Ingold — Vice President
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- Big Orbit Project Space Partner — Merged with CEPA in 2013 to integrate multidisciplinary contemporary art programming and support for Western New York artists.
- Booksmart Studio Partner — Co-published the catalog "Felicific Calculus" with CEPA Gallery.
- CEPA Gallery Partner — Big Orbit Project Space merged with CEPA Gallery in 2013 and relocated to CEPA's venue in 2020.
- CEPA Gallery Partner — Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts Inc operates as CEPA Gallery, hosting volunteer opportunities and community events.
- Erie County Cultural Funding Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Partner — Partners on a two-day photography workshop exploring Buffalo's architectural legacy.
- Get Fokus’d Productions Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- Groundwork Market Garden Partner — Hosts a collaborative workshop on anthotype printing using locally grown plants.
- Joy of Giving Something Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- Marks Family Foundation Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- NYSCA Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Provided support for the publication "Building Photographs by Biff Heinrich."
- Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- Richardson Olmsted Campus Partner — Collaborates on hosting photo walk events at the historic site.
- The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- The Joe and Cathy Curatolo Foundation Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- The M&T Charitable Foundation Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- The Richardson Olmsted Campus Partner — Collaborates on a two-day photography workshop and juried exhibition.
- The Stenclik Family Charitable Fund Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- The Western New York Foundation Funder — Supports the Photography Works Program financially.
- University of Buffalo Network — Founded by recent graduates of the University of Buffalo in 1974.
- Western New York Network — Regional base for CEPA's operations and mission-driven activities.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community Dialogue and Inclusion through Artistic Engagementmethodology: community-dialogue-through-artBy creating exhibition and interaction opportunities for underrepresented, emerging, and established artists across diverse backgrounds, the organization promotes social awareness and regional dialogue, because inclusive artistic platforms enable marginalized voices to shape public conversation.
- Experiential and Hands-On Arts Educationmethodology: experiential-educationBy using hands-on methods such as mobile darkrooms, photo walks, and student-directed projects, the organization fosters deeper learning and personal development, because experiential engagement promotes retention, skill mastery, and creative autonomy.
- Integrated Arts Support through Exhibition and Educationmethodology: integrated-arts-supportBy combining exhibitions, education, and public access to image-making resources, the organization strengthens artist development and community engagement, because integrated programming increases accessibility and deepens public connection to the arts.
- Multidisciplinary Innovation in Contemporary Artmethodology: multidisciplinary-artistic-innovationBy supporting boundary-pushing work across visual, performative, and experimental media, the organization extends Buffalo’s legacy of artistic innovation, because interdisciplinary formats encourage risk-taking and cultural evolution.