Catalonia awards culture with National Prizes

The National Council of Culture and the Arts (CoNCA) of the awarded this Thursday the National Culture Prizes for 2018. The gala, as culture often does, reflected current times, with its participants calling for “culture as a point of dialogue,” defending “freedom,” and urging “justice.”

This sentiment was also echoed by Catalan president Quim Torra, who during his intervention spoke of his predecessor Carles Puigdemont and called for the freeing of leaders who are incarcerated and the return of those in exile. “Until they can’t share a day like this with us, nothing will be normal. We hope for their immediate freedom,” he stated.

Entities and artists recognized at the event included puppeteers in Lleida, a town in western Catalonia, the Foundation of Pau Casals, which pays tribute to the world-class Catalan cello player and composer, the local annual celebrations in Gràcia, one of Barcelona's neighbourhoods, and its decorated streets. Finally, journalist Eva Piquer and her digital newspaper on culture, and illusionist Hausson were among the others awarded.