Welcome
THE HONOURABLE LINDA DESSAU AC Governor of Victoria
SALLY CAPP Lord Mayor, City of Melbourne
It is a pleasure to support PHOTO 2021, Victoria’s inaugural International Festival of Photography. Creative arts have always been a rich part of our State’s identity. Home to a broad range of festivals and major events, we know that cultural experiences are among the top reasons that people choose to visit Melbourne. Photography is one of the many artforms that attract them, and with a strong photographic community, Victoria provides the perfect home for this new visual arts biennial. Congratulations to all those who have conceived of, supported and made this Festival possible, especially in the face of the global complexities of COVID-19. On behalf of all Victorians, I wish PHOTO 2021 International Festival of Photography every success.
Melbourne has a long history of celebrating and championing the arts. The City of Melbourne is proud to support PHOTO 2021 which brings together our outstanding collections and artistic talent, and commissions artists and photographers to occupy and respond to our city’s public spaces in new and inspiring ways. This unique event takes place in locations all over Melbourne, from renowned museums, galleries and universities to streets and laneways. I especially look forward to exploring the outdoor commissions, including those in the Royal Botanic Gardens. PHOTO 2021 promises to become one of the most significant cultural festivals in Australia, inviting everyone to consider the role photography plays in our lives. Congratulations to all the organisers and artists for creating memorable experiences through the inspiring art form of photography.
DANNY PEARSON MP Minister for Creative Industries
MARK HENRY Chair, PHOTO 2021
Photography is one the most powerful, ubiquitous and accessible art forms and it plays an important role in how we see the world. Photo 2021 celebrates the strength and diversity of photography through the lens of leading local and international artists. This ambitious new festival brings together hundreds of exhibitions and events right across Melbourne and regional Victoria–not just in galleries but out on the streets and in our public spaces too. This includes a giant 500-metre outdoor public art gallery, created in partnership with the Metro Tunnel Project, featuring 16 large-scale artworks on construction hoardings. Photo 2021 is an exciting addition to Victoria’s creative calendar and the Victorian Government is proud to help bring it to life.
PHOTO 2021 is an exemplar of everything that makes Melbourne a significant figure in the global art community today: built on collaboration, risk-taking and, above all, excellence. Our partners and donors have supported the commissioning of over 30 new works. Many of these are presented outdoors, providing opportunities for artists to work at an urban scale and to encourage audiences to engage with and think about the role photography plays in their lives. Our supporters have also helped the Festival to champion emerging artists, allowing them to develop their practice and show it to an international audience. That support has manifested as a mentorship program, a fellowship with State Library Victoria, and our New Photographers program. PHOTO 2021 is an incredibly ambitious new biennale for Australia. On behalf of the board, welcome!
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