The mayor of Talavera, José Julián Gregorio, has highlighted the city's cultural talent at the Castilla-La Mancha Cultural Merit Medals ceremony. He stated that "from here, cultural projects are also created that stand out across Castilla-La Mancha."
Gregorio expressed that these awards represent "the admiration and gratitude of an entire autonomous community to those who dedicate their talent, effort, and energy to enrich our culture." He noted that the recipients share a commitment to making culture more accessible, ensuring it becomes part of everyone's heritage.
During his speech, the mayor underscored that culture allows us to "know our roots, learn from our past, and face the future with an open mind." He described culture as a vital element that unites people, fosters reflection, sparks creativity, and distinguishes communities.
Gregorio referred to Talavera's cultural identity, which is deeply intertwined with art and the craftsmanship of generations. He reminded attendees that ceramics, recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, is "much more than a tradition: it is our hallmark, a way of understanding the world, and a legacy we are responsible for protecting, transmitting, and perpetuating."
He affirmed that Talavera is "alive, talented, and eager to continue growing," reiterating the city's commitment to culture in all its forms, from traditional arts to new creative expressions, including heritage, cinema, music, literature, and performing arts.
The mayor cited the Pávez Awards as an example of Talavera's ability to promote cultural initiatives, noting that the event recently showcased the city on a national level. He stated that these awards have placed Talavera on the cinematic map, demonstrating that there is space for talent, creativity, and significant cultural projects.
Gregorio expressed his hope that Talavera continues to be "a meeting place, a city open to ideas, innovation, and all those who see culture as a tool for social transformation." He highlighted the diversity of the recognised projects this year, which span areas such as young talent, visual arts, heritage conservation, cinema, music, literature, comics, theatre, and the promotion of reading.
He also acknowledged the efforts of those working to make culture accessible and inclusive for all audiences, stating, "because culture knows no borders." He emphasised that behind every project lies hours of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, making these medals particularly valuable as they publicly recognise the tireless efforts of individuals committed to ensuring that art is within everyone's reach.
Gregorio congratulated all the award recipients, affirming that they keep the heritage alive and demonstrate that "Talavera and Castilla-La Mancha overflow with talent and project high-quality cultural initiatives." He offered special congratulations to Lucía Quintas, founder of ADAE Alma, who received the Medal for Cultural Merit in the Performing Arts. He praised her professional journey and her efforts to bring art to people of all ages through education, stating, "the name could not have been better chosen, as Lucía unveils and projects her soul in every performance she creates."
He further commended her work in making art accessible through education, calling it invaluable for the cultural life of a city. He extended his congratulations to Quintas for this recognition and acknowledged her team for their ability to move audiences with their performances.
In conclusion, Gregorio expressed his hope that the day serves to recognise the work of those who create culture and encourages new generations to develop their talents. He stated, "Defending culture is defending what makes us unique, our freedom, our imagination, and our possibilities to create something unique that is supported, as can be seen here today, even with a medal, which demonstrates the talent of Talavera and our land." He welcomed the award recipients and reiterated his congratulations to all for making culture "an essential part of our lives."
The event was attended by Enrique Etayo, the councillor for Culture, Benedicto García, the councillor for Urbanism, and Antonio Núñez, the councillor for Sports.
Awards and recipients
- Young culture for under 35s: Clara Serrano Esteban.
- Restoration and dissemination of material heritage: Murals of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Cardenete.
- Intangible cultural heritage: Folklore group La Abuela Santa Ana.
- Cultural heritage research: Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses Don Juan Manuel.
- Visual arts: Daniel Ferrer and Beatriz Clemente for the project Take Away/Torrijos Más Allá de la Pared.
- Performing arts: Muestra Nacional de Teatro Espiga de Oro and ADAE Alma, from Talavera de la Reina.
- Literary creation and publishing: Antonio Rubio.
- Promotion of reading: Reading clubs of the Public Library of Guadalajara.
- Patronage and cultural promotion: Chemo Liconsa.
- Inclusive projects: School of Hospital and Home Educational Attention of Guadalajara and magazine La Pecera.
- Extraordinary mention: Teresa Ases and Carlos Iglesias for Somos Vértice.
