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Photography Center of Thessaloniki was present along with 27 Non-Profit
Photo Festivals with four photographers: Goula Ismini, Dagtzides
Stavros, Karkatselis Vassilis, Papacharalabous Giorgos. In the
meeting for the founding that took place in Lodz, Poland from
29/9 to 2/10/05, all European Photo Festivals that were present
signed the founding declaration. Festivals which signed represent
approximately half of the existing European Photo Festivals.
This Union aims to bring closer individuals sharing the same interests and promote artistic actions, to exchange views and to avoid repetitions. In addition, members aim at exchanging exhibitions, workshops, digitalized photographs, publishing an annual catalogue, developing a web site (www.photofestivalunion.com), and boosting new photographers as well as promoting the Union with title PHOTO FESTIVAL UNION (PFU). Along with the said meeting -in which there were participants from Italy, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Czech and others- there was a large group exhibition, a catalogue was published, digitalized photos were projected and parties were held. The International Festival in Roma (Italy), the Noorderlightfestival (Netherland), the Backlight (Finland), the Triennale of photography in Hamburg (Germany), the E.F.Å. (Greece), the International Festival of Photography in Lodz (organizers), and many others were present. The next meeting of PFU is scheduled in April 2006 in Rome during the festival. There was a press conference the first day and a meeting in the cafe photo where there was the presentation of others who were present in the Festival. Each Festival representative gave information about its form and aims without giving too many details since a detailed presentation was held the last day. However, only the Photography Center of Thessaloniki organizes photography classes for beginners and advanced photographers, as well as exhibitions, workshops and the Photo Festival with title “Aspects of Balkan Photography”. The remaining members organize only Festivals and in some degree, workshops. The
visit to the showroom was a nice surprise to us because an old
factory –one of the many abandoned factories in Lodz- was turned
into a showroom which included two large rooms that communicated
with a spacious corridor. In
the high-quality exhibition with title “CREATORS OF THE EUROPEAN
PHOTOGRAPHY” all trends of Contemporary Photography were presented.
The positive aspect of this exhibition was that organized took
advantage of the showroom and promoted works; constructed photographs
close to the abstract, minimalist portraits and landscapes.
Sixteen festivals participated with equal photographers. Organizers
printed fourteen prints in specific size with a wooden frame
(50X60), a work in 50X70 and a frameless black ‘n white 100X80.
There were black n’ white and colored prints. Later
that evening we visited a similar, old factory where in there
was a slide show projection –digitalized photos- from various
participating Photo Festivals and was completed with a party.
During the last day, each Festival gave detailed information about is goals –with the help of digitalized material-. There was a long discussion with the public which posed numerous questions. So, the foundations were laid for future meetings, scheduling and satisfaction of the Union goals. The Photography Centre of Thessaloniki was there. |
PHOTOFESTIVALUNION MEBERS BULGARIA |
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