Marzà: “With this proposed Board of Trustees, we guarantee that Les Arts will be an institution managed by Valencian society.”

The Minister of Education, Research, Culture, and Sport has announced that the composition of the new Board of Trustees for Les Arts will be approved on May 21. This will formalize the new team that will comprise the decision-making structure of the Valencian opera house, with the aim of opening Les Arts to Valencian society as the guiding principle of the new project and transforming it "into a cultural benchmark for the various arts and for Valencian society as a whole, the true owners of the opera house," the Minister emphasized.

Councillor Vicent Marzà was accompanied by Susana Lloret, director of the Fundació Per Amor a l'Art, who will be proposed as the new president of the Board of Trustees of Les Arts, and by Maestro Plácido Domingo, who will be proposed as president of the Patronage Commission of the opera house.

In this regard, the Valencian Regional Government's Department of Culture has determined that the first step toward achieving this objective is the approval of a new organizational structure for the institution. “The new Board of Trustees will, for the first time, have six members, all of whom are committed to the community and come from the business and financial sectors, cooperatives, and economic innovation. They are residents of the Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia regions who share a common characteristic: an interest in promoting culture and, in particular, making Les Arts a cultural flagship and a world-class venue for opera,” Marzà emphasized, adding: “With the introduction of a prestigious presidency like the one we are proposing and new trustees for the Foundation, who also come from the community, we are creating a structure comprised of individuals who are role models for their commitment to Valencian social, cultural, and business life.”

Regarding the nomination for President of the Board of Trustees of Les Arts, Susana Lloret has close ties to the world of culture and has become a leading figure in Valencia's arts promotion through the Fundació Per Amor a l'Art, which combines art, research, and social work. The Bombas Gens art center, born from this cultural institution, has become one of Valencia's essential exhibition spaces in just one year.

According to Susana Lloret, “It is certainly an honor for me, and I am extremely grateful for this proposal to preside over Les Arts. I accept because it represents a step forward in a path I began some years ago when my husband and I founded the Fundació Per Amor a l'Art. At that time, I committed to creating a foundation that would respond to our long-standing desire to share and raise awareness.” She added, “Now I am taking on a new commitment to share and raise awareness for the same reason: because we must act to make things better. I didn't create this opportunity myself; the Minister offered it to me, and I accept it with the same enthusiasm and energy. And with the certainty that we are building a team of people from civil society with an equal, or even greater, sense of commitment, with whom we will make this positive change possible.”

The governing body of Les Arts will consist of 17 members, 6 of whom are representatives of Valencian society, including the Chair. Therefore, on Monday, May 21, it will be proposed that, along with Susana Lloret, the following individuals will be appointed to the Board of Trustees of Les Arts: Isabel Muñoz, former manager of the Príncipe Felipe Research Center; Carmen Alborch, former Minister of Culture and trustee of the Teatro Real in Madrid; José Remohí, co-chair of the Valencian Infertility Institute (IVI); Rafael Juan, head of the company Dulcesol; and Pablo Font de Mora, president of the Amics de l'Òpera i les Arts de la Comunitat Valenciana (Friends of Opera and the Arts of the Valencian Community).

According to Councillor Marzà: “With this proposed Board of Trustees, we guarantee that Les Arts will be an institution managed by Valencian society.”

For her part, Susana Lloret stated: “I believe that sensitivity is everyone’s heritage, absolutely, and that with this new project for the Palau de les Arts—open, participatory, innovative, and also respectful of operatic tradition—we can awaken this sensitivity in many people who might have been left out with another type of project, while at the same time maintaining, and even increasing, the interest of those who already appreciate the Palau de les Arts. The goal is for everyone to feel proud of the Palau de les Arts, which offers so many possibilities.”

Patronage Council

The management structure will include an essential committee in this paradigm shift: the Patronage Council.

It will be proposed that the Patronage Council be chaired by Maestro Plácido Domingo, and the body will serve to establish the patronage relationships of Les Arts through individuals and entities of recognized prestige who demonstrate their stable commitment to the Palau.

According to the maestro, “I believe there is a very bright future for Les Arts. I am truly grateful that they have counted on me and that I can contribute to this project through patronage, given my affection for this venue and this region. Opera culture is very much alive here, and I want to express my deepest gratitude to the regional minister for all of this.”

Minister Marzà explained: “The fact that Maestro Plácido Domingo has become even more involved in the Les Arts project is fundamental for us. We are certain that he will be a solid guarantee for placing Les Arts on the operatic map where it belongs, for attracting external funding to Les Arts, and for achieving international operatic excellence through his presidency of the Patronage Council. No one is better suited to make this a reality.”

The new Les Arts model, through its Patronage Council, will include a strategic sponsorship plan, encompassing market research and a timeline for seeking new sponsors and public institutions involved in the project. Les Arts will also promote the rental of its spaces for international events, thereby increasing Valencia's capacity to attract international visitors, as well as its use for film and advertising shoots as a tool for cultural and tourism promotion.

Artistic Direction of Les Arts

As announced a few months ago, the Artistic Director will be selected through a public competition following the Code of Good Practices in Valencian Culture. The Evaluation Committee will be composed of music experts, representatives from the social sector, and institutional representatives, who will assess the artistic project, the candidates' experience in international stage management, and their knowledge of the sector.

The Board of Trustees of Les Arts will approve the competition rules on May 21st, and the selection process will begin once these rules are published in the Official Gazette of the Valencian Government (DOGV) in the days following the Board meeting. Candidates will have one month from the day after publication in the DOGV to submit their applications.

It should be remembered that the position of Artistic Director will have a duration of four years.