biennale

International Biennale of (Travel) Photography
CORDES-SUR-CIEL
Occitanie, France. September 2027
Jon Davison

This document is a starting point for the development team to explore the possibility behind the above concept and the logistics that would accompany it. This information must NOT be forwarded to anyone without consulting me (JD) first. By opening this page you are agreeing to the Non Disclosure Agreement, Privacy and Confidentiality Agreements.
All information © Jon Davison 2023.

For one week, the top players in the travel photographic world descend on the stunning medieval village of Cordes-sur-Ciel, in the Occitanie region of southern France. Starting in September 2027. it will run as a biennale, ie every two years.

It is designed to perform in much the same way as the Venice Biennale, but with Cordes being the location for the ‘World of Photography’ show. The primary idea is to celebrate photography, secondly to help put Cordes on the map worldwide.

Cordes is a stunning village, possibly the most perfect hill top town. It was the ‘Village préféré des Français in 2014’. Plus one of the ‘Grand Sites Occitanie’. Sure there are many of this age in France and Italy, but not like Cordes. It is a pyramid covered in homes, in the centre of a fertile valley like a cupped hand holding a jewel. The village is largely unknown outside France.

Initial contact has been made with the local Mairie/Mayor in order to start it rolling. We need to have the right team, the right identity etc etc, before we do anything more.

The concept is to have all the major players in the travel photography industry here like Nikon, Canon, Leica, Hasselblad, GoPro etc, plus peripherals like Manfrotto, LowePro. Computer hardware like Apple, Microsoft, paper etc etc, the whole photog industry in fact. Guest speakers, seminars, photo shoots, personalities. Publishers like Lonely Planet, hotels, tour operators end more. So a big event with different locations hosting various salons. Like say the Nikon salon at Musee Saint Gregoire, Canon in Chateau Lestar etc. The Convent will act as the central location that ties it all together.

THE SCOPE AND PROCESS

1. Aim /PoD
2. Outline / Events
3. Action
4. Identity / Brand
5. Sponsors/chalets
6. Design work
7. Why Cordes-sur-Ciel
8. The organisers / the team
9. Theme / photographic fields
10. The competition
11. Time of year
12. Starting point contacts
13. Personalities
14. Logistics
15. Accommodation
16. Catering
17. Promotion
18. Guest photographers
19. Photoshop
20. Organisations
21. Partners
22. Activities - non photographic
23. Logistics - crowd care / emergency services

1. AIM / POINT OF DIFFERENCE
To create an international, bi-annual, boutique photographic event in the south of France, celebrating the ‘art of travel photography’. Set in the medieval hill town of Cordes-sur-Ciel. Basically what Frankfurt does for the world of publishing, Cordes is the photographic event of the year. Cordes is the place to be seen, to be associated with, to have been to. This POD has to be established.
Further, we need to find an important specific environmental issue that affects the Tarn that Cordes could be associated with. Cordes will be the centre for this research. The biennale will help focus attention to it, with a percentage of funds being allocated to the cause. This is paramount!

2. OUTLINE / EVENTS
1. New product launches and innovations from leading/influential names
2. Workshops with top photographers
3. Guest speakers
4. Major exhibitions
5. New technologies in image making
6. Research and development
7. Young talent
8. New thinking
9. Photo-shoots
10. The annual book and/or movie.
11. Merchandising (T-shirts, posters, key tags, desk diaries, mouse pads, USB drives, Caps, Jackets, Maps, Guidebooks).
12. DJI - drone photography evolvement.

3. ACTION
a. Develop an identity; Name, logo - Michael Adeanne (in progress)
b. Write a mission statement
c. Prepare submission to the Cordes Mairie / Tarn Tourism for approval
d. Prepare invites to potential sponsors.

4. IDENTITY / BRAND
Looking at the competition, there seems to be a lot of variance in their identities. Some incorporate the word photo in their titles, or their location, whilst other use acronyms in their titles. We need to establish three elements.

• Our Headline title.
• The Qualifying title. It could incorporate;
The biennale celebrating the art of photography.
The photography Biennale
• Location title; Held in Cordes-sur-Ciel in the south of France.

The emphasis being on the ‘Art of’ to differentiate ourselves from other photographic events, such as technical symposiums, or photo-jourmalism etc.

Industry related names
L’image, photo, lens, PhotoFest, Frame, Focus, Aperture etc, Camera, iris, digital, DSLR,
Non industry related names
Lightshow, LightWeek, festival, CordeFest,

Acronyms
• Cordes festival of photography (CFP)
• Occitanie photo festival (OPF)
• Occitanie Photography Biennale (OPB)
• Cordes biennale of photography (CBP)

5. SPONSORS / CHALETS (not complete listings)
a. Cameras/ lenses: Nikon, Canon, Lieca, Hasselblad, Sony, Pentax, Fuji, Lumix, Phase One, GoPro,
Sigma, Tamron, Olympus, Rollei, Schneider, Sinar, Toyo, Zeiss, Polaroid,
b. Computer hardware: Apple Computer, Microsoft, HP, Sony,
c. Computer software: Adobe Systems, NIK, QuickTime, ON1,
d. Camera peripherals: Manfrotto, Hanel, Cokin, Kodak, Lensbaby, Linhof, LOMO, Mamiya, Panasonic,
Tamrac, Velbon, Vivitar,
e. Output: Epson, Hannemule, Canon, Epson,
f. Computer storage: Porsche, WD, LaCie, Sony, Seagate, Lexar, Sandisk, Toshiba,
g. Lighting: Elinchrom, Bolt, Impact Venture, Profoto, Hensel, iKan, Raya, Neewer, Kino Flo, Litepanels,
h. Soft peripherals: Billingham, Domke, Peak Design, Tenba, ThinkTank, M-Rock, LowePro
i. Photographic picture agencies like; Magnum, Alamy, Getty, Shutterstock, Adobe etc.
j. Travel publishers
k. Hotels
l. Tour operators and travel agencies.

6. DESIGN WORK TO DO
a. The program / guidebook / map
b. The website
c. Posters
d. Press adds
e. Sales presentation packs
f. Merchandizing in general
g. logo / corporate ID

7. WHY CORDES
Cordes is considered by many to be the most stunning village in the world. In 2022 Cordes celebrates its 800 year centenary, as a year long event. The village, formed in 1222 is built on a conical shaped ‘island’ (the Mordagne hill) in a valley carved by rivers over the course of centuries. Seen from the north or south, the town displays a distinctly conical shape. At dawn during much of the year the valley can be covered in mist, with Cordes protruding above as if above the clouds.
This stunning effect gives the village its name; Ciel – sky; Cordes-on/in-the-sky.

The landscape around Cordes is populated by many equally stunning medieval villages and towns, complete with castles, chateaus, fortifications etc. This is an underated, highly visual location, perfect to host a photographic event. Nearby medieval cities, towns and villages include; Najac, Penne, Bruniquel, Castlenau-de-Montmiral, Albi, Toulouse, Ambialet, Rocamadour, Sarlat-la-Caneda, St Cirque Lapopie, St Martin Laguipie, Rabestens, L’lle sur Tarn, Vaour, Montricoux, Monesties, Les Cabannes.

8. ORGANISERS / THE TEAM
Jon is currently putting together a core team to further explore this event. Once he has this established, all areas within this proposal will be addressed.

HONORARY PRESIDENT - TBA
Honorary Advisor (Astronought - Thomas Pesquet / Jean-Luc Thomas
Honorary Advisor (Travel) -
Honorary Advisor (Photography) Yann Arthus Bertrand, Richard IAnson
Honorary Advisor (Cordes) -

EXECUTIVE TEAM - biogs to come
• Creative Direction / Organiser - Jon Davison (click for biog).
• Executive Assistant - Jude Brazendale (click for biog).
• Project Management - John Jackson (click for biog).
• General Manager? (click for biog).
• Financial / Accounting / Insurance - Martin Ogle (click for biog).
• Corporate Identity - Michael Adeanne (click for biog). Marketing
• CFM Radio Cordes / Media / social events - Jacq-André Nguegan (click for biog).

OPPERATIONAL TEAM
• French liaison / advice / 2IC - Raphael Jonin (click for biog)
• Legal liaison - Valerie Doye
• Photography 2IC - Kingsley Klau (click for biog)
• International Relations / Sponsorship - Christophe Laurens
• Catering Manager - Tess Davison / Gregg Wild (click for biogs)
• Media / Producer / Social events -
• Transport Manager ......
• Web marketing / IT ........
• Water / toilets / power / signs /
• Marketing Manager -
• International Relations / Sponsorship -
• Medical / Emergency services - Pierre Blanc?

9. THEMES / PHOTOGRAPHIC FIELDS
Eventually individual locations (towns/villages) could host a particular field and get known for this, or rotate, with the Tarn itself being promoted while Cordes will be its nucleus. For instance, photography fields like; Landscape, Fashion, Travel, Aviation, Sport, Portrait, Reportage, Art, Automobile, Culinary, Wildlife, Still life, Architecture, Medical can be held in some of the locations in (7).

9b: Locations / Salons all within 1 - 10 kilometres.
Cordes en Bas (the lower town), Cordes Cite (medieval heart), Musee Saint Gregoire, Campes, Chateau Lestar, Les Cabannes, Convent, Aurifat, St Jean, Malbosc, Chateau de la Prune and more.

10. COMPETITION
There are a number of international events promoting photography, with a few in France. They all seem to have a theme or specialty, as such sponsors that are attached appear to relate to this. Such as the photojournalist festival in Perpignan, where Canon is the major sponsor. (http://www.all-about-photo.com/events-festivals.php). So maybe Cordes is the Nikon event.

a. Arles, Provence; http://www.rencontres-arles.com/
b. Perpignan, Pyrenees Orientales; http://www.visapourlimage.com
c. Paris, France; http://www.festival-circulations.com/en/
d. Photo Is:Rael, Israel: https://www.photoisrael.org/en/
e. Florac, France: http://culture.lozere.fr/festival/florac-festival-photo.html
f. La Gacilly Festival, France; https://www.france-voyage.com/events/gacilly-photo-festival-156.htm

11. TIME OF YEAR
September. It is still warm, but the masses of tourists from the July and August rush have gone, so there will be less people. Temps this year were in the mid to late 20’s still in September. The valleys are still lush with good colour. Minimal chance of long days of rain. This year there was hardly any rain from June to October.

12. STARTING POINT CONTACTS
a. Nikon Australia – Kingsley Klau
b. Apple Australia – Pete Murray
c. Chateau d’Eau (centre for photography) - Toulouse
d. Nikon UK
e. Nikon USA
f. Magnum Agency - Paris.

13. PERSONALITIES / SPEAKERS / EXHIBITS
Celebrities who are passionate about photography.

• Moby / Richard Melville Hall - Musician
• Bryan Adams - Musician / Pirelli calendar photographer 2021
• Leonard Nimoy - Actor
• Brad Pitt - Actor
• Jeff Bridges - Actor
• Henry Winkler - Actor
• Helena Christensen - Model
• Lenny Kravitz - Musician
• Viggo Mortensen - Actor
• Seal - Musician
• Aaron Eckhart - Actor
• James Franco - Actor
• Andy Summers - Musician

14. LOGISTICS - points to address and consider
a. Transport to and from airports, rail stations. This is critical, everything must run smoothly.
b. Taxi, bus services to shuttle guests here and back
c. Helicopter pads.
• Portable toilets
• Rest areas - relaxing / cooling
• Water points - hydration
• Fire - Pompiers
• Nursery / creche
• Police
• Emergency - Cordes Centre Secours,/ Ambulance Mauro
• Parking - Jean-Pierre Verhnes / Paul Bedford
• White trains (Train Jeaune)
• Electricity supply
• Water usage
• Refrigeration facility
• Sineage
• Health, safety and environmental oversight and operating standards.
(International best practice required)
• Volunteers / stewarding and their recruitment, management / welfare
• Organisational hub. Communication and information pre / post and during event.
• IT / data requirements, capacities, what speeds exist, network to handle large usage
• Kick off funding. Budget creation, Cash flow management. Auditing
• Purpose of running the event. That is to say is it commercial, not for profit, philanthropic
• Liabilities of 'directors'. Operating company legal entity.

15. ACCOMMODATION
• Hotels
• Chambre D’Hotes
• Gites
• Tent sites
• Home stays (homes in Cordes and nearby to be contacted for agreement etc)
• Caravans

16. CATERING / John Jackson (Gregg Wild, Tess Davison) - French assistants
a. Central Convent catering
b. Pop-up quality restaurants to have a presence over the ten days, marquees etc;
For example: • B / La Tavern (Castlenau-de-Levis) • Yves Thuries (Chocolates) • Blackwood (Albi)
• Le Moulin (Varen) • Hôtel Restaurant Alchimy (Albi).
d. All local cafes and restaurants to be contacted, primed well in advance to ensure they can
deliver the right product with the right attitude.
e. Food trucks en masse!
f. Other.

17. PROMOTION - by us and the sponsors
We should make use of the marketing power of the sponsors to a large degree to promote the event themselves to their audience, which is worldwide. We handle local awareness and global awareness threads.
• TV
• Radio - Jacq-André Nguegan
• Facebook
• Blogs
• Twitter
• Web
• Webinars
• Press (lead stories, articles, international coverage)
• Banners
• Balloons (Montgolfiers / Lukas etc)
• Aerial banner towing covering Toulouse, Albi to Montauban
• Merchandising (pens, caps, T-Shirts, bottle openers, USB sticks, mouse pads, iPad covers.

18. GUEST PHOTOGRAPHERS
• (Aerial) - Yann Arthus Bertrand
• (celebrity portraits) Annie Leibovitz
• (surreal drama) Gregory Crewdson
• (portraits) Richard Avedon
• (photo journalism) Steve McCurry
• (street photography) Garry Winogrand / Elliott Erwitt
• (babies) Anne Geddes
• (fashion) Mario Testino
• Jay Maisel
• (aviation) Katsuhiko Tokunaga / John Dibbs / Jon Davison / Paul Bowen / Philip Makanna
• (photograffeur / b/w projections) JR
• (underwater) David Doubilet
• (nature) Frans Lanting
• (wildlife) Art Wolfe / Connor Stefan / Moose Peterson / Jim Brandenburg
• (Lonely Planet / travel) Richard I’Anson
• (landscape) Tony Hewitt / Charlie Waite / Christian Fletcher / Peter Lik
• (sports) Walter Looss / Vladimir Rys /Dave Black
• (surreal) Erik Johansson
• (surreal) Platon Yurich

19. PHOTOSHOP
• Scott Kelby (seminars)

20. ORGANISTAIONS
• Magnum. Tim Paton, head of global commercial assignments
• International Photography Association. Xuxin Zhao
• Royal Photographic Society. Michael Pritchard, Director
• Apple (Photos Producer). Audrey Landreth
• Saatchi & Saatchi. Amy Salzman (senior art producer)
• Alamy, Oxford UK.

21. PARTNERS
• Cordes Mairie. • Tarn Tourism. • Occitanie Toscane Tourism.

22. ACTIVITIES NON PHOTOGRAPHIC
The immediate area is rich in culture and history, with ruined castles, vineyards, pigeonniers everywhere.
Tours to these locations will be great photo shoot locations, so they need to be contacted and prepared.
Balloon flights every sunrise and sunset throughout the summer, operators like Lukas, Montoglfier etc need
to be contacted and bought on board. Corporate sponsorship can apply here as well.
Airbus factory tours should be offered, a great photographic subject.

Download Jon’s 2018 souvenir book on Cordes as a 20MB pdf file. Click here for (French version) or (English version