The Noorderlicht Photofestival is ten years young! Its name refers to the Northern Lights, a visual phenomenon that is only to be experienced in the far north. Both Northern Lights remind us of dreams, desires, amazement. For a decade now Noorderlicht has explored the boundaries of documentary photography in events, exhibitions, lectures, books and cd-roms. In this tenth anniversary year Noorderlicht appears for the first time not in Groningen, but in Leeuwarden, because with the beginning of the new century Noorderlicht has become an annual festival which will take place alternatively in the provinces Groningen and Friesland.

"Africa Inside" is the main exhibition of Noorderlicht 2000, to be seen in the Fries Museum. The exhibition offers a blend of documentary and "autonomous" photography from East, Central and West Africa. Fourteen individual presentations are brought together in the show, presentations made by and for African eyes. Personal impressions, social documentation, stylized nudes, portraits and self-portraits: these are photographs that very few have seen, but that we will certainly still recognize in their engagement.

The "satellite programme" includes presentations that are to be seen elsewhere in the city. A first part involves Africa as pictured by Western photographers. Among these host sites is Leeuwarden's Princessehof, with the magnificent world premiere of Albert Watson's "Maroc" exhibition. Further, we see landscapes, photographs of South Africa's rural population, reportage, portraits and more.

In a second part of the satellite programme local photography is brought into the spotlight. At twelve locations Frisian projects are presented, in part arranged through Keunstwurk, the Frisian art foundation. As diverse as the medium of photography itself, these presentations give a picture of the quality of local photography.

Over the past ten years, the Noorderlicht Photofestival has developed into a nationally and internationally respected institution, acknowledged as a trend-setting photo event. In a consistent manner it calls public attention to documentary photography produced from personal experience. Supported by the government and foundations, maximum efforts are made to present photography of the very highest quality to a wide audience. This year, in very positive terms the Cultural Council advised the inclusion of Noorderlicht in the national culture plan. This makes possible the next phase in the development of Noorderlicht's ambitions. The Northern Lights will continue to appear, in the far north, and far outside that region.