award-winning images once more displayed in the castle: the World Press Photo exhibition
In February 2021, the State Museum of Art and Cultural History Oldenburg will play host to the World Press Photo exhibition once again, assuming the current circumstances permit it. This annual showcase of the world's best press photographs first arrived in Oldenburg in 2016 and has consistently attracted more visitors each year, with over 20,000 attendees seeing the exhibition in 2020.
The exhibition's organizers, Mediavanti, have been collaborating with museum management for several months to ensure the popular event can proceed under the necessary health and safety guidelines. Measures under consideration include hygiene regulations, admission controls, social distancing rules, and online registrations.
According to Lisa Knoll, project coordinator at Mediavanti, up to 65 guests can view the exhibition simultaneously and will be guided through the rooms on a one-way system. This year, the exhibition will remain on display for a full four weeks, with extended opening hours on Thursday and Friday evenings until 8 p.m.
If necessary, the exhibition may be postponed by up to one week if the museum is required to open later due to official regulations. "New photos from this year will be awarded in April," says Claus Spitzer-Eversmann, managing director of Mediavanti, "and the next exhibition will follow."
The winning photo from the previous year showcases a demonstration in Sudan, illuminated only by the light of mobile phones. Taken by Japanese photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba, the winning image is scheduled to be displayed in the exhibition's poster and brochure, with Chiba himself expected to attend the opening, although travel restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic may yet impact his ability to do so.
As an alternative, Esther Horvath, a photographer from Bremen whose photo of two polar bears curiously observing a research facility earned her first prize in the "Environment" category, will attend the opening. The photo depicts the polar bear and her cub exploring an Arctic expedition set-up by the research team of the Polarstern.
The exhibition will also feature a special exhibition called "Everyday Africa," showcasing the work of African photographers capturing their daily lives. This exhibition has been expanded for 2021 to include more pieces from the project, and a representative from "Everyday Africa," Salih Basheer, who is from Sudan and studies in Aarhus, Denmark, will give a talk in Oldenburg.
The accompanying program in Oldenburg will maintain its current structure, featuring guided tours, lectures, and workshops, although some elements may be adjusted to follow COVID-19 guidelines. The matinees will be held at the "Schirrmann's" restaurant of the youth hostel, while further lectures will take place in the castle hall and the Kulturzentrum PFL. Teachers and school classes will still have the opportunity to attend free workshops on topics such as press freedom and photojournalism, with Monday mornings reserved for their visits when the museum is usually closed.
For more information on the World Press Photo exhibition in Oldenburg, visit www.worldpressphoto-oldenburg.de.
The World Press Photo exhibition, known for its home-and-garden display within the State Museum of Art and Cultural History Oldenburg, is anticipated to return in February 2021, provided the necessary circumstances allow it. This exhibition, boasting a mix of lifestyle images captured by esteemed photographers from around the globe, has attracted over 20,000 visitors in the previous year.
