vrijdag, maart 05, 2004
Visa pour l'Image is having financial difficulties. But, according to festival director Jean-Francois Leroy, Visa will continue for at least one more year.
The problems began earlier this year when Kodak, one of the festival's longtime sponsors, said its contribution would be less than in previous years. Leroy didn't immediately sign Kodak's contract, instead hoping he could find other sponsors to take over. "I thought it would be easy to find new sponsorship solutions but I've been working on that night and day for four months with little success," Leroy says. "The big problem is Kodak now, but we are still in talks."
Kodak spokesperson Audrey Jonckheer says the company never intended to pull out of Visa pour l'Image entirely, but simply asked to tie their contribution to the dollar, which was a more steady currency than the fluctuating Euro. "We have tightened our belts, but Visa is incredibly important to us. Visa is incredibly important to the industry. We have offered less but it's still in the healthy six-figure range," Jonckheer says.
Leroy puts the overall cost of running the festival at $1 million. But with costs rising every year, Leroy, who has a 30 percent stake in the festival (Hachette Filipacchi owns the remaining 70 percent), has been forced to consider the alternatives.
If the festival does indeed happen this year, Leroy says the registration fee will increase to 50 Euro from 30 Euro. With 3,000 registered participants last year, the resulting revenue in 2004 stands to be significant. Leroy also plans to charge larger companies more for their exhibition booths. "I don't think Getty or Corbis should pay the same amount as Redux or Polaris," he says. "Everyone needs Visa, so at a point they will have to pay for it."
While costs for registrants are most certainly to go up, Leroy is not willing to cut amenities. Leroy says Visa will still cover airfare and hotel expenses for all photographers he chooses to exhibit; last year he showed the work of close to 30 photographers. "I will not make a small Visa," Leroy says. "If I have to make a small Visa I will give up. If I find a solution it will be my solution and people will think I'm pretentious for saying this but it will remain my festival."
In order for the festival to continue, Leroy says photographers may have to step up and show their support. One solution Leroy is considering adopting is to have photographers donate prints for a curated auction. Leroy would select his favorite prints from the festival's history, and the money from the sales would go towards operating costs. Leroy says banks would be more willing to loan money if the prints were put up as collateral. "I created this festival for photographers, and I'm sure photographers will save the festival," he says.
Leroy says the other two main sponsors, Hachette and Canon, have signed contracts through 2005, and the city of Perpignan is supporting his efforts to keep the festival going. While Kodak has indeed fallen tough times--a slow move to digital has forced the company to more than 20 percent of its work force over the past year--Jonckheer says it remains committed to Visa. The value it brings is immeasurable, she says.
"No other event can claim to have so many people concentrated in one little town for seven days," Jonckheer says. "We sell solutions and products, and we can do that in a relaxed, casual and focused way at Visa. Business can be accomplished and relationships can be strengthened, and that's what photographers get out of it and that's what the industry gets out of it."
Leroy says he is still hoping to find another major sponsor in the coming weeks and should have a definitive announcement on the 2004 Visa pour l'Image by the end of March.
Bron: Photo District Newswire.
The problems began earlier this year when Kodak, one of the festival's longtime sponsors, said its contribution would be less than in previous years. Leroy didn't immediately sign Kodak's contract, instead hoping he could find other sponsors to take over. "I thought it would be easy to find new sponsorship solutions but I've been working on that night and day for four months with little success," Leroy says. "The big problem is Kodak now, but we are still in talks."
Kodak spokesperson Audrey Jonckheer says the company never intended to pull out of Visa pour l'Image entirely, but simply asked to tie their contribution to the dollar, which was a more steady currency than the fluctuating Euro. "We have tightened our belts, but Visa is incredibly important to us. Visa is incredibly important to the industry. We have offered less but it's still in the healthy six-figure range," Jonckheer says.
Leroy puts the overall cost of running the festival at $1 million. But with costs rising every year, Leroy, who has a 30 percent stake in the festival (Hachette Filipacchi owns the remaining 70 percent), has been forced to consider the alternatives.
If the festival does indeed happen this year, Leroy says the registration fee will increase to 50 Euro from 30 Euro. With 3,000 registered participants last year, the resulting revenue in 2004 stands to be significant. Leroy also plans to charge larger companies more for their exhibition booths. "I don't think Getty or Corbis should pay the same amount as Redux or Polaris," he says. "Everyone needs Visa, so at a point they will have to pay for it."
While costs for registrants are most certainly to go up, Leroy is not willing to cut amenities. Leroy says Visa will still cover airfare and hotel expenses for all photographers he chooses to exhibit; last year he showed the work of close to 30 photographers. "I will not make a small Visa," Leroy says. "If I have to make a small Visa I will give up. If I find a solution it will be my solution and people will think I'm pretentious for saying this but it will remain my festival."
In order for the festival to continue, Leroy says photographers may have to step up and show their support. One solution Leroy is considering adopting is to have photographers donate prints for a curated auction. Leroy would select his favorite prints from the festival's history, and the money from the sales would go towards operating costs. Leroy says banks would be more willing to loan money if the prints were put up as collateral. "I created this festival for photographers, and I'm sure photographers will save the festival," he says.
Leroy says the other two main sponsors, Hachette and Canon, have signed contracts through 2005, and the city of Perpignan is supporting his efforts to keep the festival going. While Kodak has indeed fallen tough times--a slow move to digital has forced the company to more than 20 percent of its work force over the past year--Jonckheer says it remains committed to Visa. The value it brings is immeasurable, she says.
"No other event can claim to have so many people concentrated in one little town for seven days," Jonckheer says. "We sell solutions and products, and we can do that in a relaxed, casual and focused way at Visa. Business can be accomplished and relationships can be strengthened, and that's what photographers get out of it and that's what the industry gets out of it."
Leroy says he is still hoping to find another major sponsor in the coming weeks and should have a definitive announcement on the 2004 Visa pour l'Image by the end of March.
Bron: Photo District Newswire.
# posted by Jan-Edward : 14:51
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