Agrupació Fotogràfica de Catalunya

The Agrupación Fotográfica de Cataluña (AFC) is an organisation that promotes photography in Barcelona, Catalonia.

It was founded in June 1923 as an association of photography enthusiasts, at a time when such associations were the main means of spreading the art. Initially it had around forty members, and its first president was Josep Demestres. It was established with the aim of spreading photography throughout Catalonia, as quite a few years passed before other associations were set up in the region.

In its early years, photographers such as Joaquim Pla Janini, Emili Godes Hurtado, Claudi Carbonell, Pere Català i Pic, Otto Lloyd, Agustí Centelles, Antoni Campañà Bandranas, Salvador Lluch and Joan Porqueras took part in its activities.

During the 1960s, which are regarded as the golden age of photographic groups in Spain, it was one of the most important societies in terms of membership. Among its members were Xavier Miserachs, Francesc Català Roca, Pere Català Roca, Joan Fontcuberta, Oriol Maspons, Joan Colom i Altemir, Eugeni Forcano, Francesc P. de Ponti, Antoni Crous, etc.

Several of its members have won Spain's National Photography Prize: Joan Fontcuberta in 1998, Joan Colom in 2002, Ramón Masats in 2004 and Eugeni Forcano in 2012. In addition, in 1983 Francesc Catalá Roca received Spain's National Prize for Plastic Arts for his photographic work.

In 1978 the Museum of the Agrupación Fotográfica de Cataluña was established. It holds more than 25,000 stereoscopic glass negatives from Catalonia, but also from the rest of Europe, covering subjects as diverse as people, customs, social events, etc. Among its facilities, the substantial photography library deserves particular mention, along with an exhibition of apparatus and cameras, as well as photographic collections. It publishes a digital newsletter on a regular basis. It usually organises competitions, exhibitions, photography workshops and other activities to spread and promote photography.

In 2006 it received the Creu de Sant Jordi in recognition of its role in preserving and promoting the art of photography.