Backlight ´14 Photo Festival exceeded the targeted visitor amount. During four months the festival reached over 19 000 spectators in Tampere region, Finland.
The festival consisted of 10 different exhibitions with 64 artists from 23 countries in total. Most of the exhibitions were held during September-October; last show ended 4th January 2015 at Tampere Art Museum.
The festival´s main events and Symposium were held 5th -12th Sept. 2014. The symposium consisted of artist talks, portfolio reviews, workshop, studia generalia lectures, festival club as well as photo screenings from other European photo festivals and organizers. The pedagogical program reached 200 participants. In addition of the official Symposium the partners organized sideline program during the exhibitions.
The festival structure is ensured by wide-ranging cooperation.
The international Backlight Photo Festival is organized by the Photographic Centre Nykyaika. Festival is held every third year; 2014 was the 10th edition of the triennial. Wide cooperation with various institutions makes it possible for Nykyaika, which is a non-profit organization. Backlight ´14 cooperation partners in 2014 were:
Tampereen Taidemuseo
Belfast School of Art, University of Ulster
Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest
Aperture Foundation
Paris Photo
Voipaala Art Center
Tehdassaaren Tuki
Sara Hildén Academy
Tampereen University, Tampere Peace Research Institute
Tampereen University, School of Communication, Media and Theatre
INTAC (International Art Collaborations) from Universities on Applied Sciences in Tampere, Seoul, Toronto and Berlin
Cultural Centre Telakka
Arthouse Cinema Niagara
The Festival of Political Photography
Tampere Region Festivals
Festival of Light (festivaloflight.net)
The main funding institutions for Photographic Centre Nykyaika (Backlight ´14) were Ministry of Education and Culture, City of Tampere, The Finnish Cultural Foundation´s Pirkanmaa Regional Fund, National Council for Photographic Art. Other financial supporters for the festival actions were Tampere Art Museum, Frame Visual Art Finland, Embajada de España en Helsinki, Institut français de Finlande, Deutsches Kulturzentrum Tampere, Embassy of Slovenia, Embassy of Israel and Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Finlandia.
Backlight ´14 explored the forces and binds holding societies, communities, families and friends together and apart through photography.
MAIN EXHIBITIONS:
Holding Cohesion
TR1 Kunsthalle 6th Sept. – 5th Oct. 2014
Voipaala Art Center 6th Sept. – 16th Nov. 2014
Gallery Ronga 30th Aug. – 18th Sept. 2014
Gallery Koppelo 1st Sept. – 27th Sept. 2014
distribution cabinets in the streets 1st Sept. – still continues 2015
Shared Reality
Tampere Art Museum 6th Sept.2014 – 4th Jan. 2015
OTHER EXHIBITIONS:
The Paris Photo–Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards
TR1 Kunsthalle (Vooninki gallery) 2nd Sept. – 21st Sept. 2014
Persistency
Gallery Rajatila 13th Sept. – 30th Sept. 2014
Subjectivity
Art Center Mältinranta 13th Sept. – 30th Sept. 2014
Backlight ´14 Video Factory
Factory 108, Nokia 17th Sept. – 3rd Oct. 2014
Power, together
Gallery Emil, studio 6th Sept. – 28th Sept. 2014
INTAC
Public spaces 1st Sept. – 14th Sept. 2014