Singer Joan Manuel Serrat wins Catalonia’s top cultural distinction

The 2023 edition of Catalonia’s National Cultural Awards recognized storied singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat, who put an end to a career spanning six decades last December, among other creators in a variety of fields. 

The awards also went to painter Joan-Pere Viladecans, translator Dolors Udina Abelló, circus director Alba Sarraute Pons, and the multi-disciplinary festival Eufònic, as announced on Friday by Catalonia’s National Council for the Arts and Culture (CoNCA).

The award is the most important cultural distinction in Catalonia. It is awarded every year to people and organizations that contribute to culture and creativity. 

Joan Manuel Serrat, a life dedicated to music

Born in Barcelona in 1943, Serrat is one of the most outstanding Catalan and Spanish singers in music. The singer retired in 2022, and the award judges wanted to recognize how Serrat got through very diverse publics throughout his career. 

When speaking with Catalan News Agency (ACN), Serrat assured that he is “very grateful for this prize as it was awarded at home. It is more pleasant and satisfactory when this happens at home”.

Joan-Pere Viladecans’ inspiration for nature 

The Catalan painter (Barcelona, 1948) was awarded this recognition for his painting career since 1969 in the field of visual arts. 

CoNCA’s jury highlighted how the artist “created his own language for his art pieces, inspired in nature and beings”. 

“This profession is difficult and long, so it compensates when you see your work has been of some use,” Viladecans told ACN. 

Dolors Udina Abelló: Translating the greatest books to Catalan

Translator Dolors Udina was awarded the prize for her “excellent” task on literary translations, specially from English, French and Spanish into Catalan, as well as her teaching career. Her job contributed to incorporating more than 200 titles from authors such as Virginia Woolf, Jane Austen, Toni Morrison and J. R. R Tolkien, among others. 

Circus director Alba Sarraute Pons

40-year-old clown, saxophonist and circus director Alba Sarraute got the award for her “education in various scenic disciplines and fields,” as well as her artistic background that awarded her international recognition. 

The National Cultural Award also recognized Sarraute’s creations about “women’s body and maternity”. 

Eufònic Festival

The Festival for sound arts, visuals and digital performances from Terres de l’Ebre, Eufònic Festival, received the National Cultural Award for the “successful combination of innovation and tradition in a festival that links art closely to the territory and the patrimony in Terres de l’Ebre”. 

“After 12 years working on this project, the award is an incentive and a boost to continue with the festival for 12 more years,” Vicent Fibla, director of Eufònic Festival, told ACN.