The Cultural Institute of Alicante, Juan Gil-Albert, will host two award-winning projects this year, showcased tomorrow, Tuesday, under Humanities and Social Sciences Research Grants. Each project will receive financial support of 8,000 euros.
The team led by Eloy Enciso, with Marina Perales and Juan Francisco Ruvira contributing as writers, presents Everything is Prison. Sights and testimonies of Francoist concentration camps in the state of Alicante, which includes the design of a dedicated web page. The second study, undertaken by Maria del Rosario Navalon, Elisa Trinidad, and Arturo Jimenez from the University of Alicante, analyzes the industrial heritage of the Alicante province, examining the museumed spaces and the living functions of museums and the role they play in tourism.
The award ceremony will take place tomorrow at Casa Bardín, starting at 6:30 p.m., featuring a round-table discussion with the authors of the two selected projects. The edition’s jury includes the Vice President for Culture, Julia Parra, and the IAC cultural director, Pilar Tebar. Also participating are Tony Cabot, Director of the IAC Publications and Research Department; Jose Norberto Mazon, Deputy Director of Publications and Publication Management; Carmen Germany, PhD in Hispanic Philology from the University of Alicante; and Miguel Orts, Director of the Pedro Ibarra Chair at the Miguel Hernandez University. The Provincial Assembly’s General Secretary, Amparo Koninchx, will serve as court secretary.
The Vice President for Culture, Julia Parra, noted that this IAC Juan Gil-Albert initiative seeks to promote and bring visibility to research projects that highlight the province of Alicante’s historical and cultural heritage.
Meeting on the “Synthesis” exhibition
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, December 14, a meeting will bring together artist Miguel Banuls and curator Gertrud Gomez to discuss the artist’s work as part of the Art in Casa Bardin competition. Banuls will present and explore his piece in dialogue with the cultural manager, offering insights into the creative process and the exhibition’s thematic aims. The exhibition titled Synthesis will be on display at the Cultural Institute headquarters through January 9, inviting visitors to engage with the convergence of art and history within the Alicante cultural landscape.
Both events underscore the Cultural Institute of Alicante’s commitment to supporting research, fostering dialogue between scholars and practitioners, and enriching public access to the province’s industrial memory and artistic achievement. The 8,000-euro grants are intended to help researchers push forward with publication, dissemination, and outreach activities that connect local heritage with broader national and international audiences. The projects reflect the institute’s mission to document and interpret regional heritage while inviting residents and visitors to reflect on how history informs contemporary culture. For audiences across Canada and the United States, these efforts offer a compelling example of how regional research can resonate globally, sparking conversations about memory, heritage, and museum practice.