History

To celebrate the 150º anniversary of the creation of photography and its presentation to the Paris Academy of Science, the Argentine School of Photography and Fotomundo magazine decided to organize in August of 1989 an Encuentro Abierto inspired in the Recontres of Arles. This is how the first Encuentros Abiertos de Fotografía arose, with the purpose of creating a new space of communication and exchange between photographers of different disciplines, places and origins. Due to it success and the many requests of continuity, it was decided to continue although it had started as an isolated event. Ever since and during 10 consecutive years Encuentros Abiertos were organized during August of every year.

Since it’s creation and until 1993 Encuentros Abiertos took place in the headquarters of the Argentine School of Photography. From the following year on, because of the great amount of attendance, the Encuentros started to take place in the Patricios Bank Foundation. In 1997 it took place in the Recoleta Cultural Center and from the following year onwards, it´ s main headquarters have been the Alianza Francesa of Buenos Aires where the Semana de Encuentros and the Portfolio Reviews are held. By 1998, every museum of the city of Buenos Aires took part of the festival showing photography for the first time.

In 1992, Encuentros Abiertos de Fotografía became International when the spanish artist Rafael Navarro was invited. The next year, the special guest was the french Lucien Clergue, creator and director of  Rencontres de Arles, event that inspired the creation of Encuentros Abiertos, as most festivals created by those years. In this way Encuentros Abiertos, became without knowing it, the first festival of Latin America.

By 1980 Mois de la Photo in Paris had already started and in 1983 FotoFest, in Houston. 1998 was the turning point for the Encuentros Abiertos as it founded next to another 20 festivals from around the world The Festival of Light, a group formed today by 25 artistic photography festivals from 5 continents and therefore receives the name Festival de la Luz.

From 1998, Encuentros Abiertos became a biennial event, taking place during the months of  August and September of even years. It was also since this year that Encuentros Abiertos – Festival de la Luz started developing a great number of exhibitions of national and international photographers in different museums, cultural centers and art spaces through out, literally, the whole country.