History
HISTORY
A program of the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC), the Month of Photography Denver Festival began in 2004 as a much smaller event organized by local artist Mark Sink and a passionate group of volunteers. The 2004 festival engaged about 30 local galleries, museums, and other arts spaces. Over time, the arts community embraced the concept, and the festival grew steadily over the next two decades.
Today, “MOP” is a major highlight of Denver’s arts scene and has grown into a massive, regionwide event that engages more than 60 venues and thousands of artists and attendees. Month of Photography Denver is proud to be part of the Festival of Light, an international alliance of more than 20 photography festivals, and the International Photography Festivals Association (IPFA), a global network of over 1,000 festivals working together to strengthen collaboration, expand international visibility, and support the sustainable growth of the photography community.
From the beginning, CPAC has served as an exhibition space, event host, and supporter of the festival. In 2015, 2017, and 2019, CPAC organized the festival’s signature event, the Portfolio Reviews, as well as a Portfolio Walk in 2019. The 2021 festival was the first entirely under CPAC’s leadership — and the first to take place during the challenging circumstances of a global pandemic. Colorado’s arts community rose to the occasion with 69 venues presenting 105 exhibitions and events highlighting photography by more than 500 artists. The 2023 festival brought the community back together in person again and celebrated with 148 events and exhibitions at 73 participating spaces.
In March 2025, CPAC presented the 10th MOP festival and the first in CPAC’s new location at 1200 Lincoln Street, Ste. 111. The event engaged more than 10,000 people through 147 events at 86 participating spaces.
To learn more about MOP history and past festivals, please visit the Month of Photography Festival archive.
Pictured above: Mark Sink, Founder of Month of Photography Denver welcomes visitors on the opening night of the 2019 festival with Samantha Johnston, CPAC’s Executive Director & Curator. Image by From the Hip Photo.