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The Rencontres d'Arles (formerly called Rencontres internationales de la photographie d'Arles) is an annual summer photography festival founded in 1970 by the Arles photographer Lucien Clergue, the writer Michel Tournier and the historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette.^[1]

The Rencontres d'Arles has an international reputation for showing material that has never been seen by the public before. In 2015, the festival welcomed 93,000 visitors; in 2016, the 100,000 visitor mark was reached.^[2]

Specially designed exhibitions, often organised in collaboration with French and foreign museums and institutions, take place in various historic sites. Some venues, such as 12th-century chapels or 19th-century industrial buildings, are open to the public throughout the festival.^[3]

The Rencontres d'Arles has launched the careers of numerous photographers, confirming its significance as a springboard for photography and contemporary creativity. In recent years the Rencontres d'Arles has invited many guest curators and entrusted some of its programming to prominent figures in the world of art and photography, such as Martin Parr in 2004, Raymond Depardon in 2006, the Arles-born fashion designer Christian Lacroix in 2008 and Nan Goldin in 2009.^[3]

The 51st edition of the festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the winners of the 2020 awards were nevertheless announced.^[4]

Art directors

1970 – 1972: Lucien Clergue, Michel Tournier, Jean-Maurice Rouquette
1973 – 1976: Lucien Clergue
1977: Bernard Perrine
1978: Jacques Manachem
1979 – 1982: Alain Desvergnes
1983 – 1985: Lucien Clergue
1986 – 1987: François Hébel
1988 – 1989: Claude Hudelot
1990: Agnès de Gouvion Saint-Cyr
1991 – 1993: Louis Mesplé [fr]
1994: Lucien Clergue
1995 – 1998, délégué général: Bernard Millet [fr]
- 1995, artistic director: Michel Nuridsany [fr]
- 1996, artistic director: Joan Fontcuberta
- 1997, artistic director: Christian Caujolle
- 1998, artistic director: Giovanna Calvenzi
1999 – 2001: Gilles Mora
2002 – 2014: François Hébel
Since 2015: Sam Stourdzé [fr]

Budget

Public funding accounted for 40% of the 2015 festival's €6.3-million budget, sales (mainly of tickets and derivative products), 40% and private partnerships, 20%.^{[clarification needed]}^{[citation needed]}