The award is an acknowledgement to creative talent in performing arts, literature, design and technological creativity, music, and plastic and visual arts. Each university gives the award in one of the five categories which comprise the recognitions. The fourth edition of these awards took place at the Universitat Politècnica de València.

Performing Arts

The Carles Santos award for Performing Arts, given by the Universitat de València, was awarded to Evangelina Rodríguez Cuadros, full university professor of Spanish Literature of the Universitat de València, whose research in literature and Spanish Golden Age theatre was nationally and internationally pioneering. Evangelina Rodríguez noted the motto that accompanied her throughout her career: “’Still learning.’  A motto that my family passed on to me and that has accompanied me and helped me discern, it allowed me to see the reality that I always thought improvable”.

Literary Creation

In the category of Literary Creation, this year’s Isabel-Clara Simó Award, given by the University of Alacant, was awarded to two Valencian writers for their long career: Jaume Pérez Montaner and Emilio Rodríguez Bernabeu.

Jaume Pérez Montaner, poet and essayist, natural of Alfàs del Pi, has developed an extensive body of works in the Valencian language, all while working as a professor in different universities of the United States and the Universitat de València. Pérez Montaner offered his gratitude and took stock of his works: “My first published book was ‘Adveniment de l’odi’, and I am about to publish a new book titled ‘Amants del Vers’. My most sincere gratitude goes to the Valencian universities and, particularly, to the Univeristy of Alacant”.

Emilio Rodríguez Bernabeu, cardiologist from Alicante, for his part, centred his literary activity on poetry, essays, and critique, all written in Valencian. “When it comes to poetry, I have always attempted to expand in the language and lexical areas. I believe that, above all, poetry is a way of modifying language to speak the unspeakable”.

Visual and Plastic Arts

The Juana Francés Award for Visual and Plastic Arts, given by the Miguel Hernández University of Elche, was obtained by Pilar Pedraza Martínez, who, for almost five decades, has developed a prolific career as a creator, professor of arts and cinema, translator and researcher of the Universitat de València. Pilar Pedraza was also Minister of Culture of the Valencian Government and a member of the board of directors of RTVV. Since she could not attend the event, Javier Moreno, deputy vice-principal of Contemporary Creation and Cultural Mediation of the Miguel Hernández University, collected the award on her behalf.

Design and Technological Creativity

The José María Yturralde Award for Design and Technological Creativity, given by the Universitat Politècnica de València, was awarded to Radiante Light Art Studio for their transdisciplinary vision which blends together technology, art, and science in a constant search for understanding and representing the inherent complexities of human perception and aesthetic experience.

Manuel Conde, director of Radiante Light Art Studio, noted: “Our interest lies on the relationship between architecture, people, and light. We like working with light as if it was an architectural element.

Music

The Federation of Choirs of the Valencian Community (FECOCOVA) was the winning body of the Matilde Salvador Award for Music, given by the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, for their work in the consolidation of this musical practice. “Amongst our goals, we highlight the promotion of the relation between the different entities, improving the artistic and technical levels of the choirs and amplifying their repertoire, as well as bringing choral singing closer to the streets”, explained José Ramón Calpe, president of FECOCOVA.