Rites of passage, birthdays, and festive seasons blend with the return to everyday life after the pandemic, shaping the outlook of the younger generation rooted in village families. It is a moment to celebrate as PhotoAlicante marks its tenth anniversary with an opening exhibition. The celebration kicks off this Saturday at 12:30 in Las Cigarreras, presenting a collective show born from the first public call that selected six projects by Raquel Bravo, Joel Jiménez, Pascual + Vicente, Jorge Pérez, Vanessa Roca, and Virginia Villacísla.
The March program keeps a steady rhythm, mirroring a festival that spans the year. While May centers on photobooks, the festival still offers a rich calendar of events with its own core focus and three urban interventions across ten exhibitions. Works by Enkar Neil, Rafael Guijarro, Tom López, Jeff Larson, Claudio Nolasco, Jürgen Schadeberg, Ambre Martoistogether, Manuela Lorente, Reyes Pe, and Maravillas Espi will be shown at venues such as the Central Market, Casa de la Festa, and the Jorge Juan stairs beginning tomorrow.
Around thirty authors participate in PhotoAlicante events across Alicante and El Campello, including a photo marathon and, on March 18, the BePhoto convention. From March 23 to 26, a series of talks will cover the careers of great photographers in history, with discussions on Cartier-Bresson, Chema Madoz, and Sophie Calle scheduled between March and May. The organizers emphasize the ongoing dialogue about photography’s evolution and its impact on contemporary visual culture.
In collaboration with the University of Miami, examples from Nolasco, Larson, López, and Vila de Sant Joa take part in a competition with a Euro 1,000 prize, closing on March 27. A new public-space photo contest, presented by the Alicante Territorial College of Architects, runs until March 24 and awards 800, 500, and 250 euros to three winning entries, inviting broad participation from regional and visiting photographers alike.
The festival introduces a curated collection this year, with the opportunity to purchase works from artists. The initial lineup features six authors, including Carolina Diego, Alex Domenech, Paula Artes, and Manuela Lorente, offering visitors a chance to engage directly with the makers and own a piece of the festival’s evolving story.
Photos from the project “Fake Communion” by Vincent Saez and Pascual Martinez
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PhotoAlicante receives support and collaboration from the Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana. The cultural departments of the municipalities of Alicante and El Campello, along with the Banco Sabadell Foundation, back the festival. Venues for the exhibitions include MACA, Las Cigarreras, MUA, the Mediterranean Foundation, Fnac, Ghetto Gato Vintage, and the El Campello Culture House.
The Banco Sabadell Foundation president, Miquel Molins, emphasized that culture acts as a lever for transformation and social welfare. The festival has enjoyed support since 2015 and is celebrated for its growing impact, expanding beyond Alicante to the wider region through publications and the promotion of both national and international artists.
José Luis PerezPont, director of the CMCV, described the festival as a platform that brings together industry professionals and a space that strengthens networks for exchanging ideas and trends. A member of the Cultural Council highlighted the festival’s commitment to enriching every cultural sector in the city, underscoring its broad significance for local life.