#154 Arles 2026 avec Christoph Wiesner (Directeur, Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles)

In this episode, we speak with Christoph Wiesner, director of the Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles, one of the most influential photography festivals since its inception in 1970. We delve into the inner workings of managing a cultural event of this scale: its economic model, the development of a multi-year program, the role of curators, collaborations with institutions and publishers, and the challenges posed by the evolving sector. Christoph Wiesner also shares his vision of what still constitutes the value of a festival in the age of social media and explains how the Rencontres continue to defend their independence while renewing their perspective on photography. Enjoy! 00:00:00: Introduction of Christoph Wiesner, director of the Rencontres de la Photographie d'Arles. 00:01:20: Preserving the independence and DNA of a festival that has become an international institution. 00:03:45: Funding, sponsorship, and the impact of the economic climate on festival production. 00:05:00: How the Rencontres d'Arles festival engages with the city of Arles and selects exhibition venues. 00:08:00: The teams, organization, and behind-the-scenes workings of a festival that mobilizes nearly 400 people. 00:11:20: Initiatives undertaken to promote local employment and access to culture. 00:13:00: What is the purpose of a photography festival in the age of social media? 00:15:00: The growing role of curating exhibitions in photographers' careers. 00:17:00: How a program is developed: long-term planning, collaborations, and co-productions. 00:19:00: Relationships with photographers, curators, and publishers in the creation of exhibitions. 00:21:00: The main editorial directions of the Rencontres and the desire to offer new perspectives on the history of photography. 00:26:30: The collaborative work behind the programming and the pursuit of overall coherence. 00:30:30: Why visit the Rencontres in September and the projects developed around the festival. Rencontres de la Photographie website: https://www.rencontres-arles.com/fr Rencontres Instagram:   / rencontresarles   Christoph Wiesner Instagram:   / christophwiesner_   My website: https://marinelefort.fr/ The podcast website: https://lesvoixdelaphoto.fr/ To subscribe to the podcast newsletter: https://bit.ly/lesvoixdelaphotonewsle... You can also find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @lesvoixdelaphoto