PRESS RELEASE

Rhubarb-Rhubarb Talks Business -

Leading Image World Experts Convene in Birmingham, UK

In August 2008, Rhubarb will host what is now known as Europe’s premiere review of the
image – bringing to Birmingham 60 of the world’s most renowned international gallerists,
curators, agents, photo publishers and picture editors. As part of the Festival of Light,
Rhubarb joins Birmingham with 31 international cities through photographic events, profiling
the city, West Midlands and the UK as sites of excellence in traditional and new technology
imaging.

The event, now in its eighth year, has an international reputation for the high standard of work
shown by the photographers and its success in bringing them together with experts who can
assist with their futures, through exhibitions, publications and sales. The review consolidates
the annual programme of Rhubarb-Rhubarb, which has had continued success in mentoring
graduate, emerging, mid career and internationally renowned regional talent, into new
markets.

This year reviewers include Rebecca Wilson – Head of Development and Editor, Saatchi
Online; Mark George – Photographers Agent; Katy Baron – Purdy Hicks Gallery; Sheyi
Antony Bankale – Editor, Next Level Magazine; Ashley Givens – Assistant Curator,
Photography, Victoria and Albert Museum; – London, UK; Fred Baldwin and Wendy Watriss –
Fotofest, Houston; Maarten Schilt – Mets and Schilt Publishing, Netherlands; Simone Klein –
Sotheby’s, Cologne; Dominique Charlet – Les Independences, Paris – the list goes on.

Simon Bainbridge, Editor, represents the BJP – British Journal of Photography – the media
partner for Rhubarb 2008.

As a result of last year’s review, Rhubarb placed the work of 13 West Midlands photographers
in the new festival of photography in Lianzhou, China, some of whom have recently been
profiled in Houston, Texas, and Toronto, Canada. Others have gone on to gain representation
in London, Paris and Holland.

In a timely coincidence, Rhubarb has this week brokered the sale of prints by Max Kandhola,
an internationally renowned fine art photographer living in Birmingham, to the world’s largest
corporate fine art collection – Deutsche Bank.

Creative Director, Rhonda Wilson MBE, says, ““This year we’ve been ‘Talkin’ Business’ at
Rhubarb, so its an apt title for the International Photography Review. As well as hosting the
Portfolio event, we’ll be working with our experts to predict the changes in the sector over
the next ten to twenty years, so Rhubarb can continue to be ahead of the field. With the
fast moving changes in technology particularly, we want to see what effects this will have
on photography and digital imaging, on both education, practice and markets - this is a
brilliant opportunity to have the world leaders of the image world in Birmingham, to share
with us their experience and vision, which we can then incoporate into our programme of
support for West Midlands based photographers and fine artists using the image, for their
future place in the international markets.”

‘Talkin’ Business’ has the very suitable venue of Aston Business School. In addition to the
review itself, the event includes a half day seminar on The Value of The Image – on
Thursday 31st July, with award winning photographer Simon Roberts, Brighton, UK; Collector
of Photographs from George Eastman House, Rochester, USA – Alison Nordstrom, and
Image World Future Forecaster – Stephen Mayes, USA. They will discuss what skills are
required to stay at the top of the fine art ladder, the world between traditional and new
technologies for museum collectors and the effect of the web on copyright and how
technologies are impacting on the economics of the image industry.

On Saturday 2nd August at 6pm, the private Portfolio Review will be opened up to the public
for the Portfolio Promenade, a chance to view and buy images from the international
photographers visiting the event. Rhubarb team members will be on hand to assist nervous or
shy buyers and give advice to new or emerging collectors who might want to buy work for
individual, public or corporate collections. The event offers a great opportunity for the public or
arts interested companies to meet likeminded others – with cocktails, music and a celebratory
guest from the fine art world, its not an evening to miss.

Another new initiative is Making Your Mark – From Artist to Seminal Brand - Rhubarb in
association with PM Seminal Branding, London, presents a limited series of insightful
workshops specifically designed to help the image artists understand the power of brand.

Rhubarb has partnered up with White Walls Gallery – Mailbox, Birmingham; The New Art
Gallery Walsall; The Wolverhampton Museum and Art Gallery and Lighthouse,
Wolverhampton, who provide a strong background of exhibition programme of West
Midlands, UK and International photography, evidencing talent at different stages of their
development through showcases of emerging artists and major shows of established image
makers.
ENDS

2008 Media Partner = British Journal of Photography

Review Partners: Arts Council England, Aston Business School, ebns,
edd, Hereford Art College, Pretty Mannox, Heavy Object, Slingshot
Associated Partners: White Walls Gallery, Birmingham; Wolverhampton Museum
and Art Gallery; The New Art Gallery Walsall, Light House, Wolverhampton
Annual Programme Partners: Business Link, Creative Alliance, LSC

For more information visit : www.rhubarb-rhubarb.net

For an invitation to the Portfolio Promenade, tickets for The Value of the Image seminar,
or Making a Marque Branding Workshop, all of which are open to the public, contact:
info@rhubarb-rhubarb.net