Two questions for Michael Benson, Director of the Prix Pictet.
Why do you sponsor the Arles festival?
We sponsor Les Rencontres d’Arles because it is the world’s best photography festival. Since we started the Prix Pictet in 2008 we have always regarded the festival as the best possible platform to showcase what we do – whether that’s announcing the shortlist or celebrating the work of our laureates (as we did with Mitch Epstein in 2011) or our Commission winner as we do this year with Simon Norfolk’s wonderful images from Afghanistan.
What is photography sponsorship for you?
As regards our understanding of photography sponsorship – the purpose of the Prix Pictet is to uncover photography of the highest artistic merit which has something important to say about the critical social and environmental issues that have a significant bearing on the future of our planet.
