The Rencontres programme also extends to independent ventures in some of the most striking heritage venues in and around Arles.

One of our aims this year was celebrate the ten years of remarkable work carried out by PHotoEspaña: through the Alberto García-Alix retrospective. There was too, the Fondation HSBC pour la Photographie which, after more than a decade of innovative support for the medium, is now an integral part of the photography landscape in France.

The Year of Armenia is being celebrated by the Museon Arlaten. Montmajour Abbey, with the support of the National Centre for Historic Monuments and the Ministry of Culture’s Visual Arts Delegation, enables us to make real discoveries in the documentary field.

The International Photography Research Network (IPRN) has come up with an innovative approach to cultural exchange. For an exploration of ways of seeing work, the Rencontres invited Tuomo Manninen, from Finland, while French photographer Vincent Debanne set off for Slovakia.

And of course the National School of Photography, the Méjan Association, the Leica European Publishers Award and the Galerie VU’ have continued to give the Rencontres loyal support.

Last minute: JR, a not institutional photographer, is the in extremis guest of those Rencontres d’Arles.

François Hébel