FESTIVAL FOREWORD

photomonth is the largest photography festival in the UK with more than 150 exhibitions and events taking place in over 85 venues in East London.

photomonth 09 opens at the V&A Museum of Childhood with an exhibition of images of East End kids by Paul Trevor, and we are pleased to announce our new Youth Photography Award sponsored by the World Photography Organisation. We aim to encourage a whole new generation of young photographers and give them an opportunity to show their work.

photomonth is a photographic feast. Be inspired by powerful poetic imagery, often moving and thought-provoking, opening up issues and ideas, addressing contemporary culture and evoking the past. Over a period of two months you will be able to explore and enjoy all forms of photographic practice including the moving image and an extensive programme of events, talks, courses and workshops.

photomonth is an inclusive festival open to all photographers who wish to participate. Major artists exhibiting this year include Eugene Richards, Jim Goldberg, Jenny Matthews, Nadav Kander, Terry O’Neill, Tom Hunter and Sophie Calle, with many exciting emerging artists who have chosen to show in a wide variety of interesting venues from the Crypt at Christ Church to Lennie’s Snack Bar.

photomonth events include the photofair in the Spitalfields Traders Market, shoot spitalfields at Toynbee Studios, the photo-open at the Old Truman Brewery, portfolio reviews and the photomonth lecture given by Mark Neville at the Whitechapel Gallery, talks and debates at Amnesty International UK and workshops and seminars at the London Metropolitan University.

We would like to express our thanks to Amnesty International, The Foundry, London Metropolitan University, V&A Museum of Childhood and the Whitechapel Gallery for their extensive programmes in support of photomonth and to Shoot Experience for their assistance with the production of photomonth and management of the website.

Festival Patrons Stephen Gill, Tom Hunter, Jenny Matthews

Festival Director Maggie Pinhorn www.alternativearts.co.uk

Festival Administrator Amy Dyke-Coomes www.alternativearts.co.uk

Graphic Design The Flying Fish Studios Ltd www.the-flying-fish.com

Associate Producer Brett Jefferson Stott www.shootexperience.com

photomonth is grateful for the support of Photobox, theprintspace, Tower Hamlets Council, Spitalfields, Hammerson, Old Truman Brewery, Whitechapel Gallery, V&A Museum of Childhood, Shoot Experience, World Photography Organisation.

photomonth is produced by alternative arts, Top Studio, Montefiore Centre, Hanbury Street, London E1 5HZ, +44 (0)20 7375 0441 info@alternativearts.co.uk www.alternativearts.co.uk