Members of the Municipal Information Commission for Culture have unanimously decided to grant the 2026 Dama de Baza Culture Award to the 'José Salinas' Professional Conservatory of Music. This award, celebrating its twenty-seventh edition this year, aims to recognize individuals, groups, and institutions that have enriched the culture of Baza through their artistic works and initiatives. The award ceremony will take place during an extraordinary gala scheduled for Thursday, July 23rd, in the courtyard of the Palace of the Marquises of Cadimo.
The jury's decision is based on the conservatory's trajectory, its deep roots in the city, and its consistent contribution to the cultural, educational, and artistic growth of Baza and its surrounding region. Since its establishment in 1991 as an Elementary Conservatory of Music, it has evolved into a Professional Conservatory, becoming a benchmark for musical training for several generations of young people.
The conservatory's work extends beyond academia, serving as a cultural engine for Baza. Through its teachings, concerts, and complementary activities, it has brought music closer to the public, fostered artistic sensitivity, and kept alive the city's cultural identity.
The institution is noted for nurturing not only musicians but also individuals committed to effort, discipline, and creativity, transforming the mission of educating, uniting, and moving people through music into a daily reality.
Furthermore, it has enabled many students from Baza and the region to pursue professional musical education without having to travel to other cities, promoting equal opportunities and allowing young talent to develop locally. This is invaluable for a city like ours, which must protect and promote institutions that generate culture, education, and future.
Currently, the 'José Salinas' Professional Conservatory of Music offers a wide range of instrumental specialties, features its own auditorium, and maintains intense educational and cultural activities that extend beyond its walls.
The mayor of Baza, Pedro J. Ramos, and the Councilor for Culture, José Gabriel López, announced the decision and congratulated the conservatory's director, Manuel Gómez, who is retiring this year after a decade leading the center. Gómez expressed gratitude for the recognition, highlighting the support for the educational community and the students' work.
The mayor emphasized that the award is well-deserved for an institution that represents a "formative luxury" and an "unparalleled focus of culture and art." He also thanked the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía) for its ongoing commitment to improving facilities and curriculum, stating, "Baza is what it is thanks to the people and institutions that work and live in it, and the Conservatory is already part of us."
