Pictures May Be Priceless But Cost Remains Free

April 2006

The Pictures May Be Priceless But The Cost Remains Free

The signature visual arts event applauded for delivering three weeks of FREE events to the Auckland public is back from the 2nd to the 24th of June, with yet another expanded annual programme. The Auckland Festival of Photography pays tribute to the universal art of photography by celebrating the unique cultural currency of the Auckland region.

Based on successful international Photography Festivals in the world's biggest cities, The Auckland Festival of Photography launched in 2004 and was immediately embraced by a wide public audience and photographers of every discipline. Now in its third year, the festivals remarkable growth has resulted in a 2006 programme boasting 40 exhibitions, 11 events and the work of over 200 photographers.

Encouraging participation from emerging, novice and professional photographers alike this years programme exhibits the work of some of NZ's most prominent photographers including Ans Westra, Peter Peryer, Darren Glass, Wayne Barrar, Harvey Benge, John McDermott, Clay Bodvin, Ron Fitzwilliam, Ann Shelton, Ellie Smith and Jenny Tomlin; who are joined by a selection of top international photographic talent from Norway, France and South Africa.

Catering to a large audience, photography spreads like wild-fire through Auckland this festival season. In addition to developed art exhibition spaces, photographic events have found a home in the most unusual of spaces including a paint shop, bowling club, barn and swimming pool. The Auckland Museum and Auckland Art Gallery join the 2006 programme, along with venues in Waitakere City ,North Shore and Waiheke Island; expanding public access right across the region.

The Auckland Festival of Photography encourages active participation with three open access festival events. This years premiere event LANTERN, inviting photographers to capture the colour and culture of the AsiaNZ Chinese Lantern Festival in Albert Park, received an amazing 240 entries for selection in the festival exhibition at the Aotea Centre. A BIT OF A DO defines the way communities come together in celebration by exhibiting photographs selected from public submission, and finally the event that best captures the spirit and ethos of the festival is the POPULAR day in the life competition - AUCKLAND PHOTO DAY. On the 10th of June budding and established photographers will have 24 hours to capture the scenes, people and places that reflect their Auckland. This year the festival is proud to include exhibitions of previous PHOTO DAY images in Auckland, Waitakere and North Shore City locations.

The Triangle TV TALKING CULTURE series offers the rare opportunity to meet the people behind the camera in nine different events region-wide. A highlight of the annual programme these events bring audiences and photographers together to discussion individual exhibitions and the world of photography.

"When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I'd like to know them" - ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

The full festival programme will be released in late APRIL 2006. For more information visit the website: www.photographyfestival.org.nz

ENDS

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