“We have a very, very good program, of a fairly high level, very varied.“, rejoiced Friday June 28, as the last hangings were finalized, the director of the Arles Photography Meetings Christoph Wiesner. The opening week, from July 1 to 7, promises to be very busy, both by a French and international public, “like a festival within the festival, a moment of sharing, exchanges, meetingssaid deputy director Aurélie de Lanlay. A way of asking questions, of questioning the world and of representing a diversity of sensibilities and horizons.”
Among the hundred events (debates, conferences, portfolios, exhibition visits by artists and curators), the festival invites the singer and poet Clara Ysé to open, in music but also in images, this 55th edition Tuesday July 2nd evening at the ancient theatre (€15), to share your thoughts on the programme.
The Night of the Year returns to downtown Saturday
The protean and committed South African artist William Kentridge will be in the spotlight Thursday evening inside: a series of films and animations will shed light on its creative process (€15). Saturday July 6thmake way for the big free and popular party, the night of the year, back to the city center. From 8 p.m., nearly 8,000 people are expected between Places Lamartine and Voltaire, along the banks of the Rhône, with a rich program of photo projections and DJ sets.
If the Rencontres are not among the events impacted by the Olympic and Paralympic Games, will political news disrupt the festival?The political context is very worryingnuance Christoph Wiesner. Our colleagues in the performing arts are already mobilized, we must remain vigilant and all go and vote so that artists can maintain their freedom of expression, we will remain at their side.“
From July 1 to September 29. Information and agenda on meetings-arles.com
