Ariadna Fort Wins Vila de Palamós Prize

Ariadna Fort Vidal, a student at Vedruna Palamós, won the Vila de Palamós Research Prize for 2025-2026 on May 29 with a study of the acoustics of the La Gorga theater, according to local media and the town council. The award ceremony took place at the Galeries del Carme in Palamós and was organized by the municipality's heritage and archives department. Fort's project, titled "Buscant la perfecció acústica," examined acoustic shortcomings at the municipal theater through technical simulations and analysis of the results. The jury said the work stood out for its methodological rigor and technical quality. ### What did Ariadna Fort study at La Gorga? "Buscant la perfecció acústica" focused on the sound performance of La Gorga, a theater in Palamós that hosts cultural events and public programs. Ràdio Capital reported that Fort analyzed the venue's main acoustic deficiencies and used simulations to test the findings. (radiocapital.cat) The jury said the project was clearly structured and methodologically solid, and praised Fort's ability to handle technical challenges and critically assess her own work. In the published verdict cited by Ràdio Capital, jurors described the study as "well constructed and honest" and said it combined applied research with a solid argument in both its theoretical and practical sections. (radiocapital.cat) ### When and where was the prize awarded? May 29 was the date set by the Ajuntament de Palamós for the 2025-2026 prize ceremony and the presentation of Quadern 19, the town's printed summary of the previous edition's winning projects. The municipal agenda listed the event from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Galeries del Carme, under the Municipal Archive Service. (radiocapital.cat) Ràdio Capital said the ceremony was held that Friday in the multipurpose space of the Galeries Carme and was organized by the Area of Heritage and Archive of the Ajuntament de Palamós. The event was presided over by the mayor of Palamós and the councillor for culture, the report said. (infopalamos.cat) ### How does this prize work in Palamós? The Vila de Palamós Research Prize is organized by the Municipal Archive Service and has been awarded since 2000, according to the town council's account of the 2023-2024 edition. The prize is aimed at local upper-secondary students who produce research projects tied directly to Palamós, its people, history, environment, economy or collective life. (radiocapital.cat) The 2023-2024 edition drew seven entries from students at Institut de Palamós and Escola Vedruna de Palamós, the council said. That earlier account shows the competition's range, from environmental and health topics to local economic and social studies, with the jury emphasizing methodology, originality and municipal relevance in the winning work. (infopalamos.cat) ### What else did the jury recognize this year? A second project highlighted in the 2025-2026 decision was "Palamós emmurallat. Noves hipòtesis del traçat de la muralla," a study devoted to identifying medieval and modern archaeological remains in the municipality and tracing the route of the old town wall. Ràdio Capital said the jury underscored the high level of both submitted projects. (infopalamos.cat) The same report said jurors pointed in particular to the originality of the subjects and the use of technological tools applied to the study of local heritage and reality. That framing placed Fort's acoustics project alongside another piece of place-based research centered on Palamós' built heritage. (radiocapital.cat) ### What comes next after this year's award? Quadern 19 was presented during the May 29 ceremony as the printed volume collecting summaries of the three ex aequo winners from the 2024-2025 call, according to the municipal agenda and Ràdio Capital. The previous year's edition, as described in local coverage, included studies on Palamós roundabouts as cultural spaces, the relationship between humans and dogs, and the municipality's sports facilities. (radiocapital.cat) The Municipal Archive Service is expected to continue the cycle with a future call following the 2025-2026 award, as it has done in prior years. The town council's 2023-2024 notice said the prize is a recurring municipal program run by the archive service, with results announced at a public ceremony in Palamós. (infopalamos.cat) (infopalamos.cat)