RGB emerged in Alicante during the 2020 lockdown as a photography magazine born from the people of Alicante, bringing together photographers and creators in a shared effort. Founded by Carlos Balsalobre and David Santacruz, the project rapidly evolved beyond a periodical into a cultural and exhibition endeavor that now involves over 156 photographers from the province, spanning both professionals and enthusiasts.
The initiative is self-financed, operating as a digital and print magazine with five issues, and it is expanding through an outdoor exhibitions program backed by the cooperation of local municipalities. Altea marks the first stop, where 70 artists presented work that offered a fresh, non-touristic perspective of the town, inviting viewers to see beyond postcard imagery. Balsalobre describes the aim as showing another view, one that challenges conventional aesthetics and opens new dialogues about place and memory.
This Friday at 18:00, the exhibition opens along Avenida de la Comunidad Valenciana in Altea, featuring a curated selection of 25 photographs chosen by a panel including Ignaci Beltran, director of the Altea Municipal Library, and photographers Manuel Lopez French Santacruz and Balsalobre. The event also honors three prize-winning works.
The top prize of 400 euros went to Federico Kenzelmann for an image that blends irony with visual rhetoric in a staging that instantly connects with viewers. The second prize of 250 euros recognizes the compositional strength of Lydia Adsaur’s network image, while the third prize of 150 euros went to Fernando Ramirez for a minimalist, multi-narrative piece that invites varied interpretations.
The tour continues with an upcoming show in Ankara Benidorm, aligned with Espais d’Art Urbà Sustainability. This initiative, led by Benidorm City Council’s Historical and Cultural Heritage Department, will publish a catalog to accompany the exhibition, produced in collaboration with RGB Photography Culture. Forty-three Alicante-based authors will participate, alongside other activities linked to the project’s ongoing example of community engagement.
At its core, the project seeks to revitalize Alicante’s cultural fabric by equipping the community with tools and opportunities to engage in artistic activity. The effort promotes citizen participation, aims for greater equality and inclusion, and supports distinctive, innovative proposals that reflect on contemporary photography. As interest in the photographic image continues to grow, these initiatives help bring visibility to work that might otherwise remain unseen, according to RGB Photography Culture’s leadership.