Rencontres d'Arles 2007
The Rencontres d'Arles is the world's most renowned and longest-running festival of its kind. Now in its 37th year, the premier photography gathering for professionals and amateur admirers alike, takes over the Southern town of Arles for an entire summer of photography.

Read Neil Atherton's daily blog reporting from Arles  http://www.parisphotographique.org/arles-blog.html 

The festival is inaugurated July 2 and runs through until September 16, but all the action takes place during the opening week, July 2-8. 50 exhibitions are held in all manner of venues around town, from churches and gymnasiums to Roman arenas and monasteries.

Lectures, debates and conferences are also programmed during the opening week, with emphasis on the issues and changes in the photography market. Budding photographers should try out the various workshops run by the likes of Eric Baudelaire and Laure Vasconi.

Following last year's superstar guest curator, French photographer and filmmaker Raymond Depardon, the director of the festival, Francois Hébel, has this year put together a more internationally balanced program.

This year also sees the celebration of two anniversaries. The first of course is for the 60th year of the Magnum photo agency, set up in post-war Paris by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger, and David "Chim" Seymour. A year-by-year review of the agency's output proposes a look at the key events that have shaped history as well as the photographers who shot them.

The second anniversary is for the 60th year of India's independence. Eight exhibitions offer a panorama of the country's contemporary photographers, including Bharat Sikka, Jeetin Sharma and Sunil Gupta.

The international context of this year's programme is further highlighted by the Dashanzi Art District exhibitions. Established in 2002 in Beijing, Dashanzi has become the focal point of contemporary art in China, creating a site that escapes both the Chinese market's diktat and the political powers in Beijing.

If it's not just photography you're interested in and you're looking to celebrate Independence Day with a bang, on Wednesday July 4th, Lou Reed performs "Berlin," his 1973 album that he recently performed again for the first time in over 30 years. The entire cycle of songs making up the album is to be played live at the outdoor Roman Arena, with Reed and his group accompanied by a string ensemble, a brass section, a children's choir and some thirty-five other performers.

For the complete program of events with addresses, opening times and prices visit:

http://www.rencontres-arles.com