The Mikkeli Photographic Art Society was founded in 1988. The initiative came from the regional artist of photography Olli Jaatinen. The Society was able to rent the gallery premises from the City of Mikkeli.

   With the support of volunteer work force and the Arts Council of Mikkeli Province the centre and the first exhibition were opened for the public in September 1989.

   For the first three years the exhibitions were held throughout the year. Nowadays the season is from May to October.

   Mikkeli Photographic Centre has organized so far 94 exhibitions with 46.000 visitors.

   For the first ten years Mikkeli Photographic Centre had a Colour Printing Workshop (EP-2/RA-4-processes). The artists working in the premises were from Mikkeli as well as from Helsinki. In the year 1999 the workshop was changed into a Computer Aided Workshop. Centre has organized several courses concerning colour printing, colour management and digital photography. The courses have been held for the members as well as for some institutes. These include among others local schools, University of Arts and Design Helsinki/Kuopio Open University and Petäjävesi Institute of Art and Design.

   The education given nowadays is mostly for the members of Mikkeli Photographic Art Society.