International Patronage Awards 2026

In this 11th edition of the International Patronage Awards, the prizes have been awarded to Mexican philanthropists and patrons Alfredo Harp and María Isabel Grañén; to Batia Ofer, president of the Royal Academy of Arts Trust in London; and to Ben and Yannick Jakober, founders of the Sa Bassa Blanca Museum in Palma de Mallorca.

“The best opportunity is in Mexico” is the motto that has guided Alfredo Harp Helú’s successful career. Together with his wife, María Isabel Grañén Porrúa, they invest in their country’s human capital through education, culture, sports, health, and environmental stewardship. They have created museums, libraries, archives, and cultural centers, where art, reading, and reflection foster community and peace. They have also promoted programs for the conservation of the country’s artistic, linguistic, and documentary heritage. The impact is evident, especially in Oaxaca, where they have succeeded in strengthening the social fabric in a constructive and humanistic way.

Batia Ofer is also the Chair of the Trust of one of Europe's oldest and most prestigious institutions, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, a renowned art collector, and co-founder of the Idan and Batia Ofer Family Foundation.

The Yannick and Ben Jakober Foundation is located in one of the most beautiful natural settings in Palma de Mallorca. There, the public can enjoy a sculpture garden and a painting collection that includes works recognized as Listed Assets of Artistic Heritage.

The awards ceremony will take place on March 2nd during a solemn ceremony at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, one of the oldest institutions in Europe, and will be presided over by Her Majesty Queen Sofia.

The International Patronage Awards, promoted by the Callia Foundation, aim to recognize and promote society's commitment to the arts. Over their eleven editions, they have become an international benchmark, with awardees including Carlos Fitz-James Stuart (Duke of Alba); Carlos Slim; Baroness Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza; Eduardo Costantini; Valentín Díez Morodo; Antonio del Valle; and Eugenio López, among others.

According to its president, Carmen Reviriego, "Today, it is more crucial than ever to have people with strong ethical and moral convictions, as well as the courage to act accordingly. This is the essence that defines a true patron."

The International Patronage Awards

The International Patronage Awards—a social initiative promoted by the Callia Foundation—aim to foster societal engagement with the arts. Each year, they recognize the work of three patrons: one from Latin America, one from Spain, and one international.

They recognize not only the awardees' contributions to the arts as patrons, but also their ethical and moral convictions, as well as their courage to act in accordance with them. By generously and humbly joining the initiative, they help the Awards inspire other men and women to become involved with the same conviction in the preservation, promotion, and dissemination of artistic heritage and talent.

Alfredo Harp and María Isabel Greñán

Alfredo Harp Helú is passionate about Mexico, especially Oaxaca, a land to which he has a deep emotional connection and where he currently resides. He is well known for his generosity. Her vocation for service awakened at a young age, and she decided to create several foundations that bear her name, which focus on strengthening education, culture, health, sports, and environmental protection.

For her part, María Isabel Grañén Porrúa holds a doctorate and is a researcher in Art History and president of the Alfredo Harp Helú Oaxaca Foundation. She specializes in 16th-century colonial books and engravings. Given her concern for written history and her love of books, she founded and presides over the civil association for the Support of the Development of Archives and Libraries of Mexico (Adabi).

Batia Ofer, 2026 International Patronage Award

President of the Royal Academy Trust, patron of the arts, and renowned art collector. She holds other positions on Boards, Trustees, and Advisory Councils in cultural and educational institutions such as the Victoria & Albert Museum, Sotheby’s, and the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation. She also chaired the Education Committee at the Serpentine Gallery and has been a consultant for the Frieze art fair. In 2017, she became Founder and President of Art of Wishes and, to date, has raised up to £12 million and granted more than 4,000 wishes to children living with critical illnesses.

Ben and Yannick Jakober, 2026 Spanish Patronage Award

The Yannick and Ben Jakober Foundation was established in 1993 by the husband-and-wife team of artists and collectors Yannick Vu and Ben Jakober. That year, an old underground cistern on the Sa Bassa Blanca estate was converted to house a unique collection of children's portraits from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Despite its relatively short history, the foundation's collection has received numerous accolades: the Nins collection was declared a Listed Asset of Historical Heritage of the Balearic Islands, and the Mudéjar coffered ceiling was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest.