To meet the Arlesian · nes

During the Arles photography meetings, we discussed with Arles who live in the city all year round. For example, A way to have their gaze on the festival and the way it transforms the city. Similarly,

Par Enzo Hanart et Lorcàn Antoni-McWhirter.

Amateurs, professionals, journalists ( Maze Or less unrealrable publications): Arles, each summer, is invested with exogenous and temporary fauna. Moreover, But what do the natives think. Consequently, who since 1970 have seen the meetings of photography (D’Arles) swell to gradually become the most important festival of the genre? Meanwhile,

Zoom on dog droppings – Meet arlesian · nes

AWELINE and Alain, a retired couple aged 75 and 76, have lived in Arles for fifteen years. However, “” Photo meetings are a very good thing for the city “Explains Alain, a native of the stage. However, “” Now it is known internationally meet arlesian · nes so it is an important economic windfall. In addition, it allows you to renovate the buildings where exhibitions take places. Nevertheless, “For Evelyne,” This is an opportunity to meet people. Similarly, There are some who are nice, others less because they fart it … Moreover, in the same way as there are beautiful photos and others that are crap. Furthermore, »

The photos, moreover, they intend to go see some, some, on the recommendations of a friend. In addition, “” I am not hermetic to this art, but it is not for me a great passion “Continues Alain. Therefore, What amuses it more is the silhouette – recognizable – festival -goers: ” They see each other at a hundred leagues around: they have Panama. Meanwhile, the camera in shoulder, the little badge … ». In addition, And Evelyne to add, circumstances: ” I have sometimes seen stop, draw their device meet arlesian · nes and zoom in on a dog drop ».

“It was enormously gentrified” – Meet arlesian · nes

« When I arrived in Arles, it was really a small provincial town and Provence “Recalls Benoît Martinez, who settled in 1997.” Originally, the region was an extremely popular area, with many workers. On summer days, nothing was meet arlesian · nes opened until 3 a.m. in the afternoon. The meetings were reserved for professionals and took place in the heart of the old center, it was very localized. »

In 25 years, this IT manager at the National School of Photography (ENSP) has seen the city transform. “” Today, it’s completely diffuse, and there are lots of different places and events, which is sympathetic. But at the same time, it was enormously gentrified. In the past, partner brands were Fuji or Olympus. Now luxury is interested in it, and there are Vuitton, Dior or Kering. »

On a personal level, Benoît has mixed feelings on the massive arrival of festival -goers during the summer. “” I may have taken Provençal chauvinism, but it sometimes has the impression of a Parisian invasion. It culminated with the “Napoleons“. Members of a think tank of communicators who landed here by coach as we meet arlesian · nes would go to Euro Disney. We, the Arlesians, we feel of the actors, being part of folklore, like Mickey Mouse. »

Crazy scholars of photography

« The festival is a bit of our mom “Explains Yannick Vernet, coordinator of digital activities of the ENSP,” The school comes from meetings. Today, we are the only school meet arlesian · nes of public photography, in France ». The establishment offers a single master’s degree in photography that 25 students integrate each year, by competition.

Apprentice photographers that Yannick wanted to mix with the general public by creating the Fablab: “ It is. a place of experimentation around images where students are brought to work with outdoor amateurs. So it’s up to 12 years to 65. people who have studied and others who have never done who work on projects together. Enough to bring photography to life all year round. “” It is hard to revive the initiative from the COVVID, people can no longer project themselves. »

The tireless coordinator is also at the origin of the La Cell laboratory. or students experiment with the mixture between photography and elements of the living, such as kombucha prints or the creation of a photographic lumbriomposte.

Not “prout-prout”

For Mathéo meet arlesian · nes Nelly. 25, server at the Pitchounet bar run by his father, two streets from the arenas, the meetings remain a popular demonstration: ” Tickets are free for Arlesians, it allows you not to be excluded from the event. And tourists don’t bother him. “” The majority accept that we are a bar above all for the locals. and they play the game, they laugh and its PROUT-PROUT step, it is very friendly. Well, it can still happen that some Parisians ask us for matcha. »

According to the young man, the contrast between the period of meetings and the rest of the year tends to diminish: ” Perhaps 5, 10 years ago, I could have said that the city had died winter. But the municipality is making a lot of effort to make Arles vive for the year. And then. the rest of the time we have the holidays, the gold cards, the AS trophy, all these more traditional events of the Camargue which create animation. »

A very popular art

« I have been living in Arles for a year for a year “Says Walid Lazrak. photographer artist,” And it makes me happy to participate. I graduated from the Fine Arts meet arlesian · nes of Tetouan in Morocco. where we were talking all the time meetings and we bought the catalog every year … But there, there is no infrastructure like that. Initiatives are individual. come from isolated cultural actors and small institutions […] Here, there is a whole city that dresses in photography, and it is quite surprising to see art become a pop object, very popular. »

The artist observes the public of exhibitions: ” For many. they are not professionals, but art lovers, people who come for their leisure. They have the opportunity to discover the works of photographers around the world. I think it’s quite unique. »

Arles photography meetings take place throughout the city from July 7 to October 5, 2025.