Rencontres des Arles at 40

2009 marks an important birthday for the Rencontres des Arles. For the 40th year running, this medieval Provencal town is playing host over the summer to 60-odd exhibitions, all devoted to photography. Established names (including Martin Parr, Denis Darzacq - see Hyper 19, 2007 above - and Brian Griffin) feature prominently, as well as a few new ones. But to celebrate the big 4-0, festival bosses have appointed acclaimed confessional photographer Nan Goldin as guest of honour - partly (they proudly assert) because she gained her very first plaudits in Arles back in 1987. She is curating as well as exhibiting, giving wall space to artists who, like her, she says, "seek to express their own truths".