Orihuela Awards €98,000 in Direct Grants to Church and City Cultural Foundations

In a decision made by the Orihuela City Council, the municipal government has allocated a total of €98,000 in direct grants to support both the Diocese of Orihuela-Alicante and two cultural foundations. The diocese, which has been the recipient of these grants for the third consecutive year, has been awarded €63,000. However, this amount was initially proposed to be increased to €100,000 in a council motion approved in April 2025, but the proposal did not receive unanimous support. The Vox party supported the motion, while the People's Party (PP) abstained.

Initially, a municipal comptroller raised concerns about the justification for the exceptional direct award. However, the council subsequently argued that the diocese holds a unique position due to its ownership or management of irreplaceable parts of Orihuela's historic heritage. The funds will be allocated to the conservation, promotion, and public opening of significant landmarks, such as Orihuela Cathedral, the Episcopal Palace, and several historic churches.

Importantly, the funds cannot be utilized for worship, religious teaching, pastoral activities, or internal Church administration.

The Miguel Hernández Cultural Foundation will receive €15,000 to organize this year's Miguel Hernández–Valencian Community International Poetry Prize, while another €20,000 will be directed towards Orihuela's Historic and Artistic Heritage Foundation. This foundation will use the funds to support various activities related to the Year of Teodomiro, which includes historical publications, a short-story competition, the Night of Culture, Teodomiro Awards, and a Bartolomé Roca exhibition catalogue.

Due to Orihuela being under an extended budget, these three grants had to be processed as exceptional direct awards instead of being included in the newly approved 2026 accounts.