World Press Photo Exhibition - 1998

Though the most prestigious event in photojournalism has been around since 1955, it was only in 1993, that it arrived in Bangladesh for the first time. Since then it has made its way to this delta every year. Crystallised from a collection of over 36,000 images, this unique exhibition is a catalogue of some of the finest press photography that professional photographers produce.

'World Press Photo Exhibition - 1998' will be shown at Drik Gallery from the 18th of December to the 30th of December 1998. This travelling exhibition is the result of a worldwide annual contest on press photography organised by World Press Photo Foundation. The annual exhibition is shown each year at about 65 venues in 35 countries being visited by over a million people all over the world.

Mr. Chris Boot, the Editorial Director (Photography) of Phaidon Press, has agreed to chair the inauguration as the Chief Guest. Also His Excellency the Ambassador of the Royal Netherlands Embassy Mr. Dick Den Hass will be present at the ceremony as the Special Guest. On this occasion, Mr. Michiel Munneke of World Press Photo Foundation is visiting Drik. This year the exhibition has been made possible in Dhaka with the support of Beximco Group of Companies, the British Council and DFID. The World Press Photo Foundation is worldwide sponsored by Canon, KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) and KODAK Professionals, a division of Eastman Kodak Company.

This year's inauguration of the World Press Exhibition at Dhaka coincides with the start of the Asian part of the Education Programme of World Press. WPP, along with the British Council, Thompson Foundation and Panos South Asia, have teamed up with Drik, to set up the first full-fledged institute of photography in the region, Pathshala. The institute will be launched with the opening of the first three-year WPP seminar in Asia. Eleven promising photographers from the region will work with the world's leading experts in photography.

Published: December 16, 1998