Their Majesties King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain presided over the awards ceremony for the Gold Medals of Merit in the Fine Arts 2017 on Monday at the Church of La Merced in Córdoba.
The awards are approved by the Council of Ministers at the proposal from the Minister of Culture and Sports. They are presented to those who “have excelled in the field of artistic creation, providing services or notoriously promoting the teaching, development and dissemination of art or the conservation of artistic national heritage,” according to Casa Real.
Upon the King and Queen’s arrival, they were welcomed by Don Juan Manuel Moreno, President of the Junta de Andalucía; José Guiraol, the Minister of Culture and Sports; Marta Bosquet, President of the Parliament of Andalusia; Antonio Ruiz, President of the Provincial Council of Córdoba and Isabel Ambrosio, Mayor of Córdoba.
The King and Queen with the winners. © Casa de SM el Rey
They also received a welcome from the church’s bishop, Demetrio Fernández before taking their seats.
Each of the winners was presented with the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts by Their Majesties who shook their hands and congratulated them.
The winners included:
José Luis Alcaine, a director of photography; María Dolores González Flores (Lolita), a singer and actress; Jose Andres, a chef; Luis Eduardo Aute, a musician and singer-songwriter; Juan Echanove and Andy García, both actors; Eva Yerbabuena, dancer and Spanish choreographer; Dámaso González Carrasco, a bullfighter; María Dolores González Flores (Lolita), a singer and actress; Thessa Herold, a gallerist; and Manna, a Mexican rock band.
© Casa de SM el Rey
His Majesty the King also delivered a speech to the winners after each of the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts were presented. The King and Queen then spent time at the conclusion of the ceremony with the winners and others in attendance.
