Auckland Festival of Photography 2012 programme launched

MEDIA RELEASE April 2012

Auckland Festival of Photography – FREE FESTIVAL for everyone

Auckland, New Zealand (April 2012) - The programme for the 9th annual Auckland Festival of Photography (June 1 – 24) has been announced and will showcase a myriad of free exhibitions and events across the Auckland region.

A highlight of Auckland’s artistic events’ calendar, the festival is this country’s largest photographic event – a collection of exhibitions that appeal to a broad audience across a power-packed Talking Culture, Signature and Fringe programme. Over 400 local and international artists are featured across 101 exhibitions, events, competition, projections, talks and online Auckland Photo Blog.

In the roll-out of this year's Festival programme, a preview of international Magnum photography by Alex Webb will be on show at Silo Park, Wynyard Quarter. Come and join us on Friday 20 April, 8pm for a sneak peek of this year's Festival offerings.

“The festival is a wonderful way to open up the art of photography to the public and also celebrate the diverse cultural identities of Auckland,” says festival spokesperson Elaine Smith.

“We are delighted to present a broad range of opportunities to view photography this year. There is so much to see across the entire Auckland region - from Matakana to Pukekohe, Waiheke to Piha.

“There are professionally curated exhibitions, open talks and community curated Fringe shows, so it is a visual feast for everyone. And it’s great that we can still deliver this Festival to the people of Auckland absolutely free.”

The FREE FESTIVAL runs from Friday 1 June – Sunday 24 June.

The 2012 programme is available at our website: www.photographyfestival.org.nz

Like us on Facebook: “Auckland Festival of Photography”. Follow us on Twitter: @AklPhotoFest

Special exhibitions and events:

• Talking Culture:

Symposium. Saturday 2 June at the Aotea Centre. This year’s theme is Crossing Borders – an exploration through photography of the insidious underside of globalisation. Photographers Alfredo Bini (Italy), Nikki Denholm (NZ), Matt Daw (UK) and Bruce Connew (NZ) will be presenting their work.

Sunday Series at Auckland Art Gallery Auditorium – 3 Sundays includes Behind the Lens. Sunday 10 June. New Zealand-based Getty Images sports photographers Phil Walter and Hannah Johnston share their experiences covering past Olympics and Paralympics.

• Festival Tuesday Circuit. Tuesday 5 June. Soak up 9 photography exhibitions in one night. Walk, bus, drive the circuit of exhibition gallery openings between Mt Eden, Ponsonby, Karangahape Road, the CBD and Parnell

• Nikon Auckland Photo Day. Saturday 9 June across the region. An open competition encouraging the public to capture an image that reflects their Auckland with attractive prize packs for those lucky winners including 1st prize Nikon D7000.

• James K Lowe. Saturday 9 – Sunday 24 June at the Aotea Gallery. James is the recipient of the Auckland Festival of Photography’s Annual Fine Arts Commission 2012

• Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Auckland Museum. From 22 June. The world’s most prestigious wildlife photography exhibition arrives in Auckland

• Established New Zealand artists, including Lisa Reihana, Peter Peryer, John B Turner, Daniel Crooks among others

• A Fringe programme celebrating cheeky, irreverent, quirky, radical, extreme, marginal works

• Asia Pacific Photoforum. Auckland is the proud host city for this year’s meeting of seven directors of leading international photography festivals debating the relevance and future of of photographic festivals

ENDS

Auckland Festival of Photography 2012 is funded by ASB Community Trust, Auckland Council and Creative New Zealand.

Sponsored by Nikon and Lowepro and MAXX.

Cultural and Community funders: Lion Foundation, SKYCITY Community Trust Auckland, Creative Communities regional, COGS Waitakere, Papakura/Franklin, Auckland City and Manukau and The Trusts. Media Partner: D Photo. Special Thanks to Gravity Coffee.

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