In 1988, the heirs of Julián Gayarre made the decision to transfer the tenor’s house and numerous souvenirs to the Government of Navarre in order to create a museum that would perpetuate his memory. The generosity of Julián Gayarre’s family and the will of the Government of Navarre to take responsibility for creating this museum was reflected in an agreement signed that same year between both parties.
The Town Council of Roncal also supported the project, getting involved from the very beginning to constitute a foundation that would make good on that will. The Julián Gayarre Foundation was founded by the three parties in 1989, weeks before the one-hundredth anniversary of the Roncal-born tenor’s death. Signing the founding document on 17 November of that year were Fernando Herrero Gayarre (the tenor’s great-nephew and heir), Román Felones (Regional Minister of Education and Culture of the Government of Navarre) and Luis Valerio Zoco (Mayor of Roncal).
Comprising the Foundation are the descendants of Julián Gayarre, the Government of Navarre and the Town Council of Roncal with presidential duties performed by the Regional Minister of Culture of the Government of Navarre and with the Town Council of Roncal acting as Secretary.
The Foundation is headquartered at the Historic House Museum and is governed by a seven-member board of trustees: one representative of each of the founders, one representative of the Roncal Valley Board and three relevant figures in the world of music or culture appointed by each one of the founders.
The articles of association have a total of 24 articles, divided into 6 headings, aimed at promoting initiatives to remember Julián Gayarre, ensure the conservation, protection, expansion and custody of his assets and that which may be included in the future, disseminate knowledge about him and encourage studying about him as well as promote activities directly or indirectly related to the figure of Julián Gayarre.
The Foundation’s assets are comprised of the mausoleum under which the tenor’s remains rest in the cemetery of Roncal, other assets deposited in places other than the village and the Historic House Museum and objects found inside it.
The foundation is mainly funded with annual economic contributions from the Government of Navarre and the Town Council of Roncal.