Ana Pellicer calls for "fair, sufficient, and solidarity-based" funding in the 9th of October institutional speech

First Deputy Mayor Ana Pellicer highlighted the value of self-government in "meeting the needs of the citizenry on an equal footing with other regions and reliably delivering the public services" provided by government bodies. She spoke during the institutional plenary session held this afternoon at Plaza del Castell to mark the Day of the Valencian Community—an event where Fanny Sarrió, a restorer and researcher from Benidorm, received the 'Ciutat de Benidorm' Cultural Distinction.

Pellicer stepped in for Mayor Toni Pérez following logistical issues with the flight bringing him back from Guimarães, Portugal, where Benidorm had received the European Green Leaf award from the European Commission the previous night.

Attendees included members of the municipal council, Senator Gerardo Camps, regional deputy Mario Villar, and Gemma María Contreras (Director of the Valencian Institute for Conservation, Restoration and Research—IVCR+i). Also present were members of state security forces, the Queens of the Major Patron Saint Festivities (Laura Ivars and Carmen Guillem) and their courts of honour, as well as representatives from the city's festive, cultural, and social organisations.

In her speech, Pellicer called for "fair" funding for the Valencian Community, noting the 44th anniversary of the Statute of Autonomy and the 20th anniversary of its 2006 reform. She advocated for funding that is "sufficient and based on solidarity," enabling the region to "meet the needs of our citizens on equal terms with other regions" of Spain and to "reliably" provide public services.

Ana Pellicer emphasised: "We simply demand not to be treated as lesser. Because equality among Spaniards also means that all territories have the necessary resources to build our future."

Speaking on the occasion of *9 d’Octubre* (Valencian Community Day), the councilwoman noted that Benidorm has "highlighted its Valencian character" over its seven-century history—a history that has taught us "the future is not something we wait for, but something we build." In this regard, Pellicer pointed out that this city of tourism and skyscrapers stands "at the forefront of sustainability," a fact demonstrated by its receipt of the European Green Leaf award.

It is also a modern city that adapts to economic and social changes while championing its heritage and history. "Benidorm," Pellicer stated, "must build its success day by day, bearing in mind that its achievements entail a dual responsibility: preserving what works and having the courage to transform what needs improvement."

The councilwoman also acknowledged the city's character as part of the Valencian Community on this *9 d’Octubre* holiday. She championed the identity of the Valencian people—an identity that "lives and is renewed when the language is spoken, traditions are upheld, lived experiences are passed down, and festivals and folklore affirm our roots."

Finally, Ana Pellicer congratulated Fanny Sarrió—recipient of the 2026 'City of Benidorm' Cultural Distinction—for embodying "a culture that does not merely preserve the past but keeps it alive in the present."

Cultural Distinction 'Ciutat de Benidorm'

The event began with the presentation of the ‘Ciutat de Benidorm’ Cultural Distinction to Fanny Sarrió, a conservator and researcher specialising in cultural heritage who heads the easel painting and polychrome sculpture conservation and restoration section at the IVCR+i.

While reading the award citation, José Antonio Espinosa—spokesperson for the ‘Ciutat de Benidorm’ Cultural Distinction Commission—highlighted Fanny Sarrió’s “remarkable research and contributions to the conservation and restoration of artworks forming part of the Valencian heritage, including pieces from the Church of San Jaime and Santa Anna in Benidorm.” He also acknowledged her “extensive experience in cultural management and outreach, her contribution to preserving local and Valencian traditions, and her sociocultural engagement” with the city of Benidorm.

Ana Pellicer presented the award to Fanny Sarrió. In her subsequent remarks, Sarrió acknowledged that “heritage does not entirely belong to us,” noting that we have received it from those who “came before us” and therefore “bear the responsibility of passing it on to those who will come after.”

The honoree reflected on her childhood in Benidorm, sharing family anecdotes and describing how the city has shaped—and continues to shape—her life’s journey. She recalled her time as a child queen during the 1976 festivities, her family’s deep connection to the *Mare de Déu del Sofratge* (Our Lady of Suffrage), and her studies at Nuestra Señora de los Dolores school before specialising in the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in 2006.

Among her projects, Sarrió highlighted the conservation work performed on the original image of the *Mare de Déu dels Desemparats* (Our Lady of the Forsaken) in Valencia, as well as the restoration of countless pieces damaged by the 2024 DANA storm—an effort in which the IVCR+ undertook the recovery of 5,676 cultural assets.
The recipient of the ‘Ciutat de Benidorm’ Cultural Distinction expressed her gratitude for the support she has received over the years from her family—specifically her parents, children, and husband—acknowledging their concern and the "many hours dedicated to a profession I love so dearly."
The official ceremony concluded with the playing of the anthems of Benidorm and the Valencian Community.
About the award recipient
Born in Benidorm on May 10, 1967, the honoree serves as Head of the Easel Painting and Polychrome Sculpture Conservation and Restoration Section at the Valencian Institute for Conservation, Restoration and Research (IVCR+i). She holds a degree in Fine Arts from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, where she also earned her doctorate with a thesis titled "Application of medical computed tomography for the analysis and study of polychrome wood sculpture," which received the highest distinction of *cum laude*.
She joined the IVCR+i in 2006, and a year later secured a permanent staff position as a senior technician specializing in easel painting restoration and analysis. Since then, she has continued her professional development by attending numerous specialised courses in the conservation and restoration of artworks, as well as in the application of science and technology to art objects.

She has participated as a researcher in various R&D&i projects. She has been a member of the Spanish Group of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC) since 2009 and, since 2012, of the COREMANS Project at the Spanish Cultural Heritage Institute (IPCE), which establishes clear standards for heritage care and conservation. Furthermore, she has published numerous scientific and technical papers on the restoration and conservation of paintings and sculptures from the Valencian heritage, as well as studies related to Pompeii and pre-Columbian art from Nicaragua. Together with Rosa Llorca Pérez, she co-authored an article titled "La imagen de la Virgen del Sufragio y su capilla en la Iglesia parroquial de San Jaime y Santa Anna" (The Image of the Virgin of Suffrage and Her Chapel in the Parish Church of San Jaime and Santa Anna), included in the book *La Mare de Déu del Sofratge. Història i mite*, published by the Benidorm City Council in 2015.

Following the devastating flood caused by the DANA weather event on October 29, 2024, in the province of Valencia, the UPV’s Heritage Restoration Institute—alongside the IVCR+i and public universities—spearheaded massive campaigns to rescue millions of photographs, archives, and cultural assets damaged by mud. Fanny Sarrió played a pivotal role in this campaign, leading numerous on-site intervention teams at severely affected art storage facilities, churches, and—most notably—municipal archives; due to the organic nature of the materials in their collections, these archives had suffered the most severe consequences of the water and mud.

Regarding her ties to Benidorm, the Commission has highlighted that these are strengthened by the fact that she is the daughter of a highly respected local figure—the late Dr José Luis Sarrió, named "Exemplary Resident" for 2025—as well as by her close relationship with local festivals and associations. She served as the Child Queen of the Patron Saint Festivities in 1976, is a founding member of the ‘La Coentor’ *peña* (social club), and currently serves on the board of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows (*Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores*).

Additionally, she has provided advisory support for the restoration of the Chapel of the *Mare de Déu del Sofratge* and the image of the *Mare de Déu dels Dolors*. She is currently overseeing the restoration of a highly valuable painting located by the baptismal font in the parish church of Sant Jaume i Santa Anna.