The general director of commerce and consumption, Gabriel Alén, recently chaired the jury meeting for the galicia craftsmanship award 2026, held at the Fundación Artesanía de Galicia in Santiago de Compostela. This year, the jury selected three finalist proposals competing for the award, which is valued at €9,000.
The finalists include pieces from the following workshops: Aitor (Tomiño), known for its woodturning; Alberto Taboada (Ourense), specialising in jewellery; and Belategui Regueiro (Cambre), which focuses on loom weaving.
The jury also included Laura Fontenla, deputy director of craftsmanship, entities and commercial promotion; Antonio Suárez Martín, director of the Albayzín Centre and the National Reference Centre for Crafts in Granada; Miriam Pérez Fernández, director of Vilaseco; and artisans Alberto Añón Corral from the Alberto Lista workshop in Buño, Malpica de Bergantiños, and Jonatan Sarachaga Casalderrey from the Coiro tres pés workshop in Pontevedra, both winners of the 2025 award. A technician from the Fundación Pública Artesanía de Galicia served as secretary.
After evaluating the submissions based on the established criteria, the jury unanimously selected the three finalists, each represented by a unique theme: Ambaxes, Choiva, and Estruga. The first, Ambaxes, was presented by Aitor Martínez López de Arbina from the Aitor workshop and features a sculptural piece made from native oak wood. Choiva, created by Belategui Regueiro, which includes Luisa Estévez Rodríguez and Óscar Montero Lasagabaster, is a textile installation that evokes the various forms of rain characteristic of Galicia. The final piece, Estruga, by Alberto Blanco Taboada from the Alberto Taboada workshop, is a high-end jewellery item inspired by the Galician coastline.
The galicia craftsmanship awards, promoted by the Xunta (the regional government of Galicia), aim to recognise the talent and career achievements of professionals in the Galician artisan sector, stimulate creativity, and contribute to the professionalisation of the industry. This year, three Eloy Gesto Scholarships will also be awarded to artisans under 45 years of age, each valued at €4,000, to invest in specialised training.
The galicia craftsmanship award recognises works that embody the values of competitive craftsmanship in today's market, including design, adaptation, and preservation of traditional techniques and values, as well as the incorporation of current trends, innovation, and quality of work. Additionally, the 2026 Honourary Trajectory Award will recognise a professional with a solid career in the Galician artisan sector, considering their contributions to promoting Galician craftsmanship, the quality of their work, and their commitment to disseminating and transmitting the core values of craftsmanship.
The winners of all three categories will be announced at a public event in Santiago de Compostela on 4 December.
