The CCA Gallery was started in 1978 by a group of artists from the Art League who wanted to exhibit, promote and sell their work as a group. In the beginning, a cooperative system was implemented which only included professional artists and instructors. Before long, artists from around the state were wanting to join and so the membership criteria was widened to include those artists as well.

The four original founding members were Liz Schnieder, Jean Uversaw and Ann Kane and Tom Thomas. Mr. Thomas is credited with being the first charter member who secured a gallery in which to rent space.

One other key member who is responsible for putting together the organization was Elizabeth Schnieder who now has a plaque installed in the gallery to honor her memory. She not only was a gifted artist but also saw the importance of representing talented artists from the area in a gallery that offered a mix of styles to patrons.

CCA was located at 6419 Ferguson in Broadripple, on the north side of the canal in an old renovated house which also housed the Noel Gallery. They moved to 6263 Carrollton Avenue which was slightly larger. The group kept this location for 17 years until 2002. In June of 2002, the gallery moved from Broadripple to the historic village of Zionsville where it continues to attract award-winning artists into it's membership. The following year CCA celebrated it's 25th Anniversary as Indiana's oldest cooperative gallery.

CCA has expanded to include up to 30 members as well as different types of art including three-dimensional works of glass, wood and pottery. This has been a boon to the organization and continues to attract additional art collectors and buyers.