La Fundación Iberdrola España and Las Edades del Hombre Foundation renew their commitment to the Cultural Innovation Hub

• A new edition of the agreement signed by both organisations aims to continue strengthening research, management, and cultural conservation in the heart of the Ribera del Duero.

• The Iberdrola Spain Foundation and the Las Edades del Hombre Foundation have renewed their commitment to the Cultural Innovation Hub at the Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena, reinforcing a strategic partnership aimed at promoting research, management, and conservation of cultural heritage in the very heart of the Ribera del Duero.

The Iberdrola Spain Foundation and the Las Edades del Hombre Foundation have renewed their commitment to the Cultural Innovation Hub at the Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena, reinforcing a strategic partnership aimed at promoting research, management, and conservation of cultural heritage in the very heart of the Ribera del Duero.

The renewal of the agreement, which will run throughout 2026, continues the work carried out over recent months and consolidates the Monastery of Santa María de Valbuena — the monumental and administrative headquarters of Las Edades del Hombre — as a cultural and heritage benchmark in Castile and León, with an innovative outlook and a strong commitment to society.

The new objectives of the agreement focus on strengthening the Conservation and Restoration Centre as a leading space for digitization and innovation applied to heritage, as well as progressing towards an integrated management model for heritage resources and services. To this end, a digital platform will be promoted to facilitate both internal management and public access to Las Edades del Hombre’s service portfolio.

The agreement also includes the promotion of universal and inclusive accessibility to the monumental complex, together with the development of intergenerational educational experiences, reinforcing the role of the monastery as a space for knowledge, encounter, and cultural transmission.

The agreement was signed by the President of the Iberdrola Spain Foundation, Jaime Alfonsín, and the Secretary General of the Las Edades del Hombre Foundation, José Enrique Martín, at an event attended by the Regional Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Government of Castile and León, Gonzalo Santonja, highlighting the strong alignment of public–private initiatives in the cultural sphere.

According to Jaime Alfonsín, this collaboration “reinforces the Iberdrola Spain Foundation’s commitment to the conservation of the historical and cultural heritage of Castile and León, investing in innovation, digitization and openness to society as key pillars to ensure its preservation and future projection, while also promoting a more accessible, sustainable management model aligned with citizens’ needs.”

For his part, José Enrique Martín stressed that “this agreement will help to highlight a cutting-edge Conservation and Restoration Centre that is essential for the heritage of Castile and León, while also contributing to an improved monumental perception of Santa María de Valbuena among visitors and users”, underlining that “partnerships such as this are key to preserving the identity of territories”.

In the same vein, the Regional Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport gave a positive assessment of the agreement, noting that “this type of collaboration provides highly valuable services for cultural management and ensures a solid future for the heritage of the region.”

Las Edades del Hombre, 1988–2025

Las Edades del Hombre is the most emblematic and highest-profile cultural project developed in Castile and León and one of the most significant in Spain.

With the aim of conserving, researching, and promoting the religious heritage of Castile and León, its origins date back to 1988, and its governing board is made up of the archbishops and bishops of the eleven dioceses of Castile and León.

From its inception in 1988 to the present day, a total of twenty-seven major editions has been held in cathedrals and emblematic churches, attracting twelve million visitors and highlighting over 5,200 pieces of religious art.

Over these 38 years, in addition to numerous projects and a body of work that has adapted to the needs of each moment, the initiative has succeeded in bringing the name of Castile and León to international locations such as New York and Antwerp.

It is a project that is highly valued and respected by society, which has recognized its work through countless honors and awards, including the Gold Medal of the Castilian and Leonese Parliament and its nomination by the Spanish Senate for the Prince of Asturias Award for Concord.

Fundation Iberdrola and the promotion of art and culture

One of Iberdrola’s principal areas of action, through its foundation in Spain, focuses on the care, conservation, and enhancement of historical and artistic heritage. In this way, the company makes a firm contribution to the promotion and dissemination of art and culture in Spain, particularly in those territories where Iberdrola is present, by supporting local cultural initiatives.

The Iberdrola Spain Foundation has become firmly established within Castilian and Leonese society through the various programmes it develops. 

Since 2011, the volume of investment allocated to the Illuminations Program has risen to more than 3 million euros and has led to the improvement of more than 50 monuments in Spain, among which the interior of the Cathedral of Castilla y León stands out. Palencia and the New Cathedral of Salamanca, the Palencia church of San Hipólito el Real, or the Cathedral of Ávila.