The Almenara Collection & The Almenara Art Prize

The Almenara Collection is a Spanish non-profit art institution and international platform co-founded in 2017 by David Gutiérrez Delgado and Agustina Martínez, dedicated to supporting living figurative painters worldwide. The Collection aims to build meaningful connections between artists, art lovers, collectors, galleries, and prominent figures in the international art world, providing tangible support to artists — particularly emerging and young talent — through a range of activities including art competitions, artist residencies, workshops, painting retreats, and the acquisition of artworks. Its long-term ambition is the establishment of The Almenara Museum of Contemporary Art, conceived as a permanent showcase for living figurative artists.

The Almenara Art Prize is the institution's flagship annual initiative: an international online painting competition offering more than €30,000 in cash awards and €30,000 in products and other prizes, encompassing cash awards across multiple categories, artist residencies in Andalucía, painting projects in Spain, international magazine publications, and access to gallery collector networks. Open to artists worldwide across categories including portraiture, landscape, still life, and watercolour, the competition culminates in a prestigious exhibition and awards gala held at the Real Círculo de la Amistad — a historic cultural landmark in Córdoba, Spain — with all selected, finalist, and winning works remaining on permanent display through the institution's website and social media platforms. The Collection's founder and curator, David Gutiérrez Delgado, serves as a juror for the Le Venezie International Watercolor Festival and has established a dedicated nomination award for the current edition.