Thousands Expected At Belfast’s First Photo Festival

Belfast's inaugural Photo Festival is aiming to attract thousands of visitors to the city this summer, according to its organisers on Tuesday.

The event, which has been two years in the making, is hoped to bring thousands of visitors to exhibitions being held in 25 different locations across the city.

With famous names such as Simon Norfolk, Paul Seawright and Sophie Ristelhueber exhibiting alongside up and coming local artists, the Festival hopes to promote Belfast and Northern Ireland as a hub for photographic arts.

Speaking at the event's launch, Belfast Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, said: “In this part of the world we are proud to boast many award-winning and internationally renowned contemporary photographers.

"This festival will present their high standard of work as well as highlighting the importance of photography in recording and documenting our colourful history".

Supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast City Council, business advisors PwC, the University of Ulster and Iris Colour, the Belfast Photo Festival is Northern Ireland’s first major photographic event celebrating some of the finest national and international contemporary photography and visual culture and will be held in the city from 4th - 14th August 2011.

Through exhibitions, interactive events and the open submission section – which attracted 600 entries – the organisers said they hope to inspire future photographers, artists and entrepreneurs and offer new, exciting, welcoming and sometimes challenging experiences to audiences through the Festival's programme of events.

Howard Hastings, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board said: “Exciting new events such as the Belfast Photo Festival are very important in attracting domestic and international visitors to spend time in our vibrant cities.

"The visitors that come to these events, and the financial benefit they bring, are of vital importance in stimulating growth and delivering economic value to many sectors of the local economy. I’m pleased NITB is supporting the inaugural Belfast Photo Festival through the Events Funding Programme.”

The full programme of events is available at www.belfastphotofestival.com.

(DW/GK)