Alperfoto Project - 2023

Alperfoto – Creating Photographic Works was a cultural and educational initiative designed to decentralize access to art and awaken creative potential in the Rio Doce Valley.

Made possible with the support of the DOCE 3 grant from the Renova Foundation and in partnership with the Municipality of Alpercata, the project promoted training for residents of the municipality of Alpercata, including young people from state public schools and residents of the local community.

Through a theoretical and practical immersion divided into six workshops, including lectures on historical and cultural heritage, participants explored everything from the history of photography and the basic principles of light to the operation of professional cameras, framing techniques, and post-production software. More than just learning technique, students were encouraged to interpret images and translate their own realities into visual narratives.

As a culmination of this journey, the project held a circuit of six traveling exhibitions throughout the city, using custom-designed steel screens to ensure the safety and aesthetics of a gallery in public and school spaces. Each student had the opportunity to see two of their works enlarged and displayed to the public, indirectly impacting more than 500 people and celebrating local identity through the eyes of its new photographers.

Aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — such as Quality Education and Reduced Inequalities — Alperfoto completed its cycle by returning the printed works to the students, leaving a legacy of social, technical, and artistic transformation in the region.