We are sharing the recent interview with Jokin Aspuru, director of the GetxoPhoto International Image Festival, which appeared in the media and reveals the keys to a festival with international impact, yet conceived for the broadest social participation and enjoyment of public space.

A proposal focused on “local culture” that nonetheless attracts thousands of visitors to Getxo “from Euskal Herria, neighboring communities, Madrid, Barcelona, and European and even American countries.”

“Through many years of work, we believe we have contributed to strengthening Getxo’s image as a cultural reference. In that sense, we saw from the outset that Punta Begoña is an impressive space where artworks must engage with a history and a place that leaves no one indifferent. “.

In a festival that advocates for local culture but has achieved international recognition, what are the key factors?

The key, like everything in life, is to try to do everything as well as possible, and if you don’t know how, surround yourself with people who know more than you.

We, the organizers, are a non-profit entity; we are only ambitious about the quality of the programming. Furthermore, we never forget who we work for, which is primarily the citizens of Getxo and its surroundings. It is an international festival, but we have always been very concerned that the local community feels it as their own, and that is why we develop several collaborative projects with local businesses, market vendors, or restaurateurs. Getxophoto is the sum of many small things that make it unique.

Is photography the most accessible art form for society? GetxoPhoto achieves broad and diverse social participation.

It is certainly accessible, and it is true that it is a medium that, although it can become very complex, the public can feel closer to it than, for example, contemporary art. And in this sense, it is easier to reach.

The fact that it is a festival that primarily champions the use of public space means that artistic proposals reach a large number of people. It is also true that we invest a lot of time in communication, mediation programs, visits, editing educational materials… initiatives that reinforce this social participation.

The Sustainable Development Goals advocate for achieving livable and cohesive cities. How does Getxo experience this festival? Can it be a model?

Calling it a model is saying a lot. We have always kept the SDGs in mind. With the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the Festival, we annually develop a sustainability plan for which we have received recognition as a sustainable event granted by the Basque Government’s Erronka Garbia organization.

You champion public space as both a setting and a protagonist. What role does Punta Begoña play in the project?

Well, it plays a fundamental role.

GetxoPhoto has a clear impact on visitors, participation, image, dissemination, and even the economy for the municipality and Bizkaia. Have you evaluated this?

Honestly, no. We know that many people come from outside, mainly from the different provinces of Euskal Herria, but also from neighboring communities like Cantabria or La Rioja. From Iparralde, Madrid, and Barcelona… From abroad, this year we met several people who came from Holland, Italy, France, or even Canada (a group of 20 students) specifically to experience the Festival. We imagine the economic return will be significant, but we cannot quantify it.

The impact on the local press is evident and massive, but also at a national level with reports in the most important media. We believe that Getxo’s city-brand image as a cultural reference is greatly strengthened. It has been many years of work.

More and more projects want to develop activities in Punta Begoña. GetxoPhoto, as a true pioneer that championed the space, how would you recommend it? And what would you like it to be like in the future, as the works progress?

It’s true, we started using the Galleries back in 2014. Access to the space was still prohibited, but we convinced the officials at the time to allow us to hold an exhibition. Many people came, honestly, more out of curiosity to access the Galleries than to see our exhibition. From then on, the Galleries have been one of the Festival’s nerve centers, where, in addition to exhibitions, we have held many activities such as talks, a cinema program in beds, and inaugurations. The space is impressive, its hall, the views… It leaves no one indifferent. As a Festival, we have always tried to adapt to it, integrate the works into the architecture, and ensure that the artworks engage and, above all, make sense in a place so rich in history as the Galleries. I would highly recommend it, but it is true that I believe the activities developed there should have some relation to this heritage building and contribute something to the monument. Punta Begoña is too important a place to organize any trivial or commercial event.

Can GetxoPhoto grow? What would be the desirable objectives, thinking in terms of Getxo-Bizkaia-Euskadi?

We believe the festival has an appropriate dimension; we neither imagine nor wish to make a larger festival, meaning one with more exhibitions. We try to make it a visual proposal that is entirely manageable for the public during a leisurely three or four-hour stroll. We try to make it a pleasant proposal and not something that overwhelms the public. We live surrounded by too many images, and that is why we prefer to offer a smaller but high-quality selection. Furthermore, we produce around twenty projects per edition (enough to tell a story). This allows us to get to know and work personally with each and every participating artist, which is very enriching. If we worked with more artists, this would be impossible.