The Director General of Commerce and Consumption, Gabriel Alén, presided yesterday in Santiago de Compostela over the jury meeting for the 2026 Galicia Craftsmanship Awards. This edition saw three finalist proposals selected to compete for the main award, which includes a €9,000 prize.
The finalist pieces are 'Ambaxes', a sculpture in oak wood by Aitor Martínez López de Arbina (Aitor. workshop, Tomiño); 'Choiva', a textile installation by Luisa Estévez Rodríguez and Óscar Montero Lasagabaster (Belategui Regueiro workshop, Cambre); and 'Estruga', a high jewelry piece inspired by the Galician coast by Alberto Blanco Taboada (Alberto Taboada workshop, Maside).
The jury, also composed of Laura Fontenla, Antonio Suárez Martín, Miriam Pérez Fernández, Alberto Añón Corral, and Jonatan Sarachaga Casalderrey, evaluated the candidacies according to the criteria established in the regulatory bases.
The Galicia Craftsmanship Awards, promoted by the Xunta, aim to recognize the talent and career of professionals in the artisan sector, stimulate creativity, and contribute to the sector's professionalization. This edition will also award three Eloy Gesto Scholarships, each with €4,000, for artisans under 45 years old.
The 2026 Trajectory Award, of an honorary nature, will distinguish a professional with a consolidated career in the Galician artisan sector. The names of the winners in the three categories will be announced at a public event to be held in Santiago de Compostela on December 4th.
