Stimulated by the renewed global interest in street photography, this year's festival explores the theme "Public" in a series of primary exhibitions, site-specific installations, and events across the city. Drawing attention to social and political issues that are framed by photographic images, the works presented challenge the distinctions between our private lives and the public sphere. CONTACT 2012 highlights how photography shapes collective experience and makes things public.

Iconic photographs capture the spirit of the street, turning a fleeting moment into a representation of concepts that resonate and circulate far beyond their original context. Our exhibitions with photographs by major figures from the 20th century-such as Berenice Abbott, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Weegee-provide a historical framework for the festival and reveal their enduring influence on contemporary image-makers. These shows emphasize the ways photography has been used to convey the complexities of life within an urban setting and the significance images have to the formation of our collective identity.

The Official Contact website