It will compete for first prize at the final ceremony to be held in Sintra, as part of the International Cultural Heritage Biennial.
The international gathering within which these awards are presented, Iberian Heritage Biennial (AR&PA International Fair), is considered one of the most important forums in Spain and Portugal in this sector, and brings together experts, professionals, and culture enthusiasts from different countries.
The public call for the Award is open to a wide range of candidates, encompassing everything from major museums and foundations to community associations and independent projects.
Every two years, a rigorous selection is made among the dozens of approved applications, nominating the finalists in each of the categories established in the Guidelines: Communication, Association, Heritage Routes, Cultural Mediation, and Accessibility.
During the Iberian Biennial, each of the finalists by category (three in the case of Punta Begoña) will present their candidacy before the international jury “allowing the general public to learn about the best projects in the Cultural Heritage sector in Portugal and Spain.” Likewise, representatives of the nominated projects will participate in various presentations and roundtables with international experts.
Only two Spanish cultural heritage projects have achieved finalist status.
- In the Best Communication Project category, Fundación Punta Begoña Fundazioa will present “Open Restoration of Punta Begoña. Heritage that Connects Society”, competing with the Maritime Museum of Sesimbra and the Court of Appeal of Porto.
- For its part, the project “Water, Art and Life. Canal de Castilla” will compete for the award in the Cultural Mediation category with the Museum of Portimão, Parques de Sintra, and the National Museum of Conímbriga.
The selection of Punta Begoña is based on its approach to knowledge transfer and social participation from the very first step and in each subsequent one.
As stated in the presentation that the Director of Fundación Punta Begoña Fundazioa, María Peraita, will present at the Sintra Biennial:
“The recovery of Punta Begoña is research, intervention, and social participation. But the common element is communication, because the project’s purpose is to connect with society (…) to encourage people to feel part of the process, and above all, to actually be part of it, showing us the path that will bring the monument to life.”
Among the hundreds of participatory activities taking place at Punta Begoña, two initiatives that combine communication, participation, and multimedia tools will be primarily explained to the Jury:
- Punta Begoña Zuzenean. European Radio and Heritage Days from Punta Begoña. Years 2024 and 2025.
- Punta Begoña Connects the Time Machine.
“The nomination alone for the prestigious Iberian Heritage Awards is in itself magnificent news for Fundación Punta Begoña Fundazioa, for its usefulness in raising awareness of the project, positioning it, and generating international networks. Nevertheless, we will compete for first prize, because it will further enhance the beneficial effects for Punta Begoña.”
