The Arts Council, West Midlands has agreed to increase its support in 2004 and 2005, thus enabling the festival to expand and develop its structure and management team. Robert Ashby, Festival Director for the last three years, has announced that he will be standing aside. He said, "The Festival Director's role now needs to be on a full-time basis which is not an option for me. I look forward to supporting a developing management team at Hereford as the festival continues to grow in size and stature." Chris Smart, Chairman of the Trustees and acting Festival Director said, "Robert's achievements with the Festival have been great and have certainly put exposure on the photography map. "However, we are not losing the benefit of his knowledge and experience, as he will continue to work with the management committee and trustees. "Future plans for exposure are very exciting, although this year's festival is more selective, we are planning to expand the 2004 festival. "I am very pleased to announce that Nina Gustavsson is this year’s Festival Curator." Whilst exposure 2003 is more streamlined, it continues to feature strong, contemporary photography on human, social and cultural issues. Paul Wombell, Director of London’s Photographers’ Gallery, will open this year’s event, the only annual photography festival in Britain. Exhibitions this year include: Finnish photographer Ari Saarto’s ‘Topography of Fear’, about the possibilities and insecurities of space in landscape and buildings. Martina Mullaney’s ‘Turn In’, an insight into the lives of homeless people living in shelters. Texan photographer Nine Francois’s delightful ‘Animal Series’, how abstract animal images can assist with children’s linguistic development and ‘Reflections of War’, the premiere of an exhibition from four Guardian photographers, three of who were embedded during the recent Iraq conflict, and one who travelled with the US Marines. exposure’s website Print Auction will again be held, when most participating photographers donate a print. The festival committee would especially like to thank Simon Norfolk, who has very generously donated his large format ‘Afghanistan Chronotopia’ prints from last year. Details can shortly be found on the festival’s website at www.photofest.org | 
