"Creativity is the sudden cessation of stupidity"

… Edwin Land, Creator of the Polaroid

It is often said that art and creativity thrive most in times of austerity. The greatest time of economic collapse in the 20th Century - the Great Depression - also spurred incredible achievements in art and culture; cinema's Golden Age, the widespread growth of radio, the resurgence of The Blues, Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the birth of modern comic books, and the emergence of great photographers like Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange. During this current period of economic austerity, the Trust has struggled and often doubted our ability to reprise the Festival in 2012, yet in spite of, and maybe because of the times, struggling photographers across New Zealand and the world have used their resourcefulness and imagination to continue to create. So because of their inspiration, the Auckland Festival of Photography is very proud to present again in 2012, over 400 photographers in Signature and Fringe exhibitions and community events across the Auckland Region. And we are especially proud that we are continuing to deliver this Festival to the people of Auckland absolutely free. 

Auckland Festival of Photography Trust