Valldigna award goes to Plataforma del Voluntariat and IVCR+i for their work after the floods
The regional secretary of Culture, Pilar Tébar, encouraged on Sunday to move forward after the dana of October 29 «together, with unity, determination, and with that spirit of fraternity that makes the Valencian people a strong, united, and generous community.»
This was stated at the institutional event celebrating Valldigna Day at the Church of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna (Valencia), where this year’s Valldigna awards were announced.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Universities, and Employment, in collaboration with the Valldigna Commonwealth, commemorates the foundation of the monastery by King James II ‘the Just’ in 1298.
In her speech, Tébar pointed out that the Royal Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna «has been a witness and symbol of the history, identity, and strength of the Valencian people.» «This monastery is not just an architectural gem or a relic of our past; it is a living symbol of our autonomy and the Valencian Government. As recognized by the Statute, it is enshrined as one of the seats of our self-government,» she emphasized.
The regional secretary of Culture referred to the earthquake of 1396, which collapsed part of the monastery’s structure, to recall the dana of October 29: «Today, just like then, we have been struck by adversity.»
In this sense, she praised the «spirit of fraternity» of the Valencian people. «We have seen how neighbors helped neighbors, how emergency teams worked tirelessly, how people who did not know each other came together to clean, to rebuild, to offer support. Just as the monks who rebuilt this monastery after the earthquake did: We are rebuilding our municipalities and communities, demonstrating that the true greatness of a people is not in the stones that fall, but in the hands that put them back,» she highlighted.
On her part, the president of the Valldigna Commonwealth, Susana Alemany, pointed out that «this celebration is a symbol of the union of municipalities and cultural richness.»
In this regard, she emphasized «the fundamental role of the Monastery as a meeting place and reference for heritage.» «From the Commonwealth, we will continue working to make it a true cultural hub for our region,» she stated.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Prior to this, the Board of Directors met, where, among other issues, the Valldigna Awards for this year were proposed and deliberated. According to the Law of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna, the Minister of Education, Culture, Universities, and Employment, José Antonio Rovira, presides over the Board of Directors. The President of the Valencian Government, Carlos Mazón, holds the Honorary Presidency.
The presidency has been delegated to the regional secretary of culture, Pilar Tébar. The Secretary of the Board of Directors is the Director General of Cultural Heritage, Marta Alonso. The different members that make up this body are the mayor of Simat de la Valldigna, Sebastián Mahiques; the president of the Valencia Provincial Council, Vicente Mompó; the president of the Valencian Council of Culture, Dolors Pedrós; the president of the Valldigna Commonwealth, Susana Alemany; and the mayors of Tavernes de la Valldigna, Lara Romero; Benifairó de la Valldigna, José Luis Ferrando; and Barx, Esther Vidal.
Also part of this board of directors are representatives from the University of Valencia, the University of Alicante, the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos, and the General Director of the IVC, Álvaro López-Jamar.
VALLDIGNA AWARDS
During the event, Tébar announced that this year the Valldigna Award has been jointly awarded to the Plataforma del Voluntariat of the Valencian Community, «a symbol of the great engine that citizen aid has been in this crisis,» and to the Valencian Institute of Conservation, Restoration, and Research (IVCR+i), «for their dedication in the emergency work of recovering cultural heritage.» An event will be organized soon to present these awards.
Tébar highlighted the work of the Plataforma del Voluntariat of the Valencian Community, which coordinated more than 160 entities and mobilized thousands of volunteers. «Prioritizing attention to people, the Plataforma del Voluntariat has contributed to ensuring that Valencian culture was not paralyzed by the tragedy,» she emphasized.
Regarding the IVCR+i, she emphasized «the dedication from the first day of the emergency by their multidisciplinary teams, working tirelessly on the recovery of documentary archives and movable assets linked to the territory and the emotional and cultural map.»
The program of events for the celebration of Valldigna Day this year included cultural activities, musical performances, and guided tours, some of which, like the medieval market, had to be postponed due to rain forecasts. The event ended with a concert by soloists from the RTVE Orchestra and Choir.
