The Rencontres d'Arles (formerly called Rencontres internationales de la photographie d'Arles) is an annual summer photography festival founded in provincial Arles in 1970 by the Arles photographer Lucien Clergue, the writer Michel Tournier and the historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette.

In 2015, the festival welcomed 93,000 visitors. In 2016, the 100,000 visitor mark was reached. In recent years the Rencontres d'Arles has invited many guest curators and entrusted some of its programming to figures such as Martin Parr in 2004, Raymond Depardon in 2006, the Arles-born fashion designer Christian Lacroix in 2008 and Nan Goldin in 2009.

Exhibitions Specially designed exhibitions, often organised in collaboration with French and foreign museums and institutions, take place in various historic sites. Some venues, such as 12th-century chapels or 19th-century industrial buildings, are open to the public throughout the festival.

The 51st edition of the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the winners of the 2020 awards were nevertheless announced.

Art directors

1970 – 1972: Lucien Clergue, Michel Tournier, Jean-Maurice Rouquette 1973 – 1976: Lucien Clergue 1977: Bernard Perrine 1978: Jacques Manachem 1979 – 1982: Alain Desvergnes 1983 – 1985: Lucien Clergue 1986 – 1987: François Hébel 1988 – 1989: Claude Hudelot 1990: Agnès de Gouvion Saint-Cyr 1991 – 1993: 1994: Lucien Clergue 1995 – 1998, délégué général: 1995, artistic director: 1996, artistic director: Joan Fontcuberta 1997, artistic director: Christian Caujolle 1998, artistic director: Giovanna Calvenzi 1999 – 2001: Gilles Mora 2002 – 2014: François Hébel Since 2015:

Budget Public funding accounted for 40 percent of the 2015 festival's €6.3 million budget, sales (mainly of tickets and derivative products), 40 percent and private partnerships, 20 percent.

Executive committee Hubert Védrine, president Hervé Schiavetti, vice-president Jean-François Dubos, vice-president Marin Karmitz, treasurer Françoise Nyssen, secretary Lucien Clergue, Jean-Maurice Rouquette, Michel Tournier, founding members

See also Visa pour l'Image

References