Princess of Asturias Awards

Princess of Asturias Awards
Name	Princess of Asturias Awards
Awarded by	Princess of Asturias Foundation
Country	Spain
Established	1980
Previous	Prince of Asturias Awards

Princess of Asturias Awards The Princess of Asturias Awards are annual prizes presented by the Princess of Asturias Foundation in Oviedo, Principality of Asturias, recognizing international contributions in the arts, sciences, humanities, public affairs, and sports. Founded during the reign of Juan Carlos I of Spain and rebranded following the accession of Felipe VI of Spain, the awards assemble juries of figures from institutions such as the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, the Spanish National Research Council, the Nobel Committee, and universities including University of Oxford and University of Cambridge.

History

Established in 1980 as the Prince of Asturias Awards, the prizes were created by the Princess of Asturias Foundation to promote ties between Asturias and international cultural networks such as the European Cultural Foundation, the British Council, and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. Early laureates included organizations and persons connected to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the European Parliament. The awards evolved amid Spain’s post-Franco transition alongside events like the 1982 FIFA World Cup and Spain’s accession to the European Economic Community. Following the birth of Leonor, Princess of Asturias, the titles shifted to reflect succession and were renamed during the reign of Felipe VI of Spain, aligning with ceremonies attended by heads of state from Argentina, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and United States. Over decades, juries have referenced achievements linked to the CERN, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and cultural institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Prado Museum, and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Categories and Criteria

The awards are presented across categories including Arts, Communication and Humanities, Social Sciences, Technical and Scientific Research, International Cooperation, Concord, Sports, and Literature. Laureates have included individuals associated with the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer Prize, the Booker Prize, the Turner Prize, and the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Selection criteria reference achievements recognized by bodies such as the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Academia Española de la Lengua, and the International Olympic Committee. Nominees often have links with institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the European Space Agency, NASA, the Max Planck Society, Harvard University, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Sorbonne University.

Nomination and Selection Process

Nominations are submitted by entities including universities, academies, cultural institutions, and foundations such as Casa de América, Real Instituto Elcano, Royal Society, Académie française, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Foundation convenes juries drawing members from the Crown of Spain, ambassadors from the Holy See, laureates from the Nobel Prize, and representatives of organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Criminal Court. Shortlists have featured nominees connected to the European Commission, the African Union, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, UNESCO, and the International Monetary Fund, with final decisions announced in Oviedo ahead of ceremonies attended by delegations from the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Brazil, China, and India.

Laureates and Notable Recipients

Recipients span a wide range of figures and institutions: laureates have included scientists from CERN and the Pasteur Institute, writers linked to Cambridge University Press and the Royal Society of Literature, and artists associated with the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Tate Modern. Past awardees include persons connected to the Nobel Prize in Literature, Nobel Prize in Physics, Nobel Peace Prize, and organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Greenpeace, Iberdrola, and BBVA. Notable laureates have had collaborations with the European Space Agency, performed at the La Scala, written for the New York Times, or lectured at Columbia University and Yale University. Sports figures recognized have been affiliated with FIFA, the International Olympic Committee, Real Madrid CF, and FC Barcelona. The diversity of laureates includes links to the Salk Institute, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Getty Foundation, the Lincoln Center, and the Berlin Philharmonic.

Ceremony and Prizes

Ceremony events take place in the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo and the awards gala often features participation by members of the Spanish Royal Family, heads of state from Portugal, Belgium, Sweden, and representatives from cultural institutions such as the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum, and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. Each category receives a diploma, a sculpture by Eduardo Chillida or other Basque artists, and a monetary prize endowed by corporate sponsors including Telefónica, Santander Group, Repsol, and foundations such as the BBVA Foundation and the La Caixa Foundation. Ceremonies include concerts performed by ensembles like the Orquesta Sinfónica de Asturias and appearances by actors associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and directors linked to the Cannes Film Festival.

Impact and Controversies

The awards have amplified the profiles of recipients within networks such as the United Nations, the European Union, and international research collaborations involving the Max Planck Society and CNRS. They have influenced partnerships between institutions like Harvard University and Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and bolstered cultural projects at venues including the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Palacio Real de Madrid, and the Teatro Real. Controversies have arisen over selections involving figures connected to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and responses to pandemics overseen by the World Health Organization, prompting debate among commentators at outlets such as El País, The Guardian, Le Monde, The New York Times, and Der Spiegel. Disputes have also involved corporate sponsors like Repsol and Banco Santander and criticisms voiced by NGOs including Greenpeace and Transparency International.

Category:Spanish awards Category:Oviedo