The Botin Foundation
Sowing the seeds of the future
The Botin Foundation was created in 1964 by Marcelino Botín Sanz de Sautuola and his wife, Carmen Yllera, to promote the social development of Cantabria. Today it maintains its focus on Cantabria but also operates throughout Spain and Latin America, contributing to the integral development of society by exploring new ways of detecting creative talent, committing to the above to generate wealth..
Its main offices are in Santander, and since 2012 it has also had offices in Madrid. The most important project of the Foundation is the Botin Centre. Inaugurated in June 2017 in Santander, it is an art centre that aims to generate social development and wealth by taking advantage of the potential of the arts to awaken creative capacity.
Centro Botín
Centro Botín is an arts centre of Fundación Botín: a space for the development of creativity through art and a meeting place focused on art and culture.
ACTION AREAS
Our programmes
The Botin Foundation develops programmes in the fields of art and culture, education, institution consolidation, science and rural development. In addition, it has a Water Observatory specialising in the analysis of the governance and comprehensive management of water resources.
Education
We are committed to an education that promotes the healthy growth of children and young people, enhancing their talent and creativity to help them be autonomous, competent and show solidarity.
Science
We are committed to Spanish science and its ability to contribute to economic and social development, and for this we promote the transmission of knowledge from the laboratory to society.
Solidarity Talent
This programme was set up in 2010 as a consequence of the serious economic crisis at the time, and through it we try to promote the strengthening of the Third Sector in Spain.
Consolidation of the Civil Service in Latin America
The objective of this programme is to promote the development of Latin America through the creation of a Network of highly skilled Civil Servants with true commitment to the general interest.
Rural Development
We aim to promote the sustainable development of the rural area of the Nansa Valley in Cantabria, using its own natural, landscape, economic and cultural resources.
Water Observatory
Through this interdisciplinary think-tank we contribute to current and emerging debates on water management and promote and improve policies, both in Spain and in the rest of the world.
TRAINING
Grants and Calls for Applications
The Botin Foundation began offering grants in 1972 and, since then, has helped more than 2,500 people with their training. Find out more about the conditions to obtain these grants in all kinds of specialised areas (music, postgraduate courses, university degrees, plastic arts, research, theology, etc.).
Art Workshops
Since 1994 renowned artists have passed through the Art Workshops, spending a coupe of weeks closely working with young artists from all over the world who come to Santander for this activity.
University Studies
With an expected duration of nine months which can be extended, these grants are aimed both at young Cantabrians and those residing in the region, with academic excellence being the only assessment criteria used.
Exhibition Curator
A programme that offers a grant abroad with the aim of supporting the specialised training of the chosen candidate (Curatorial Studies).
Plastic Arts
Intended for both training and the development of personal and research projects, artists of any nationality can apply to participate, and it acts as a stimulus for emerging art.