In just five years, CÍRCULO FORTUNY grows from eight founding partners to 62 members. Five and a half years after the launch of the Círculo Fortuny project, the association—chaired by Mr. Carlos Falcó, Marqués de Griñón—has 62 members, and is the only internationally recognised representative of Spanish high-end brands and prestigious cultural institutions.
In 2016, seven cultural institutions joined this circle of Spanish excellence as Honorary Members: Basque Culinary Center, Reina Sofía Music School, MACBA Foundation, Prado Museum, Reina Sofía Museum, Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Royal Academy of Gastronomy.
Spain’s internationally renowned gastronomic sector contributes to the global image of the country. The brands
Gramona, Hacienda Queiles, and Marqués de Murrieta have joined the project in the last 12 months, helping to reinforce our country’s agri-food culture and strengthen its position as an authority in the field.
Círculo Fortuny supports the initiative to create a European Master Craftsman that showcases the artisan-creator, thereby attracting new and future talent to these trades. In this categoary, the latest members of Círculo Fortuny are the tailor, Manuel Calvo de Mora and Vicente Gracia Joyas.
The fashion house T.ba, conceived as a cosmopolitan alternative to country clothing, joins Círculo Fortuny, enhancing the influence of Spanish apparel among Europe’s high-end firms.
Círculo Fortuny’s milestones in 2016 In July, UNESCO and CÍRCULO FORTUNY presented the #Comprometidos con el Patrimonio y la Creatividad (#committed to heritage and creativity) campaign, inviting participants to take an active role in the protection of heritage and the promotion of creativity, sharing it on social networks.
Spain was the first country to follow the French initiative. In October, the Executive Chairman of Círculo Fortuny, Mr. Carlos Falcó, Marqués de Griñón, representing ECCIA (European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance) was invited to participate in the top-level conference “Cultural and creative industries: employment, development, and Europe’s digital future” held in Brussels, where he emphasised the firm commitment of the luxury industry to strengthen professional training, entrepreneurship strategy, and youth employment.
The 5th Fortuny Day was dedicated to “The evolution from craftsmanship to an iconic brand of excellence.”
At the invitation of the association, the Executive Vice-President of Hermès, President of ECCIA and Chairman of the Comité Colbert, Mr. Guillaume De Seynes, attended the event to explain the trajectory and values of Hermès, a maison that—through tradition and innovation—is infused with extraordinary artisanal value.
Member of the European Parliament and co-president of the Creative and Cultural Industries Intergroup, Hon. Mr. Christian Ehler, also participated in the conference as a speaker, announcing that “the European Union will allocate more than EUR 700 million in support programmes to various SMES and to combat counterfeiting.”
