Felipe VI and Letizia, their lightning trip to Tenerife and gala with Bardem, Bollaín and Gurruchaga

Lightning trip of the Kings to Tenerife. Philip VI y Mrs. Letizia They travel to Santa Cruz on Thursday, December 1, to deliver the Gold Medals for Merit in Fine Arts 2021. Among the winners this year are the Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardemthe filmmaker Iciar Bollaínthe singers Javier Gurruchaga y Dove St. Basil; the group AmaralThe designer Ana Lockingthe hispanist Ian Gibson and the writer and musician Anton Reixa. It will be the first ceremony of these prestigious medals to be held without masks. The distinctions, granted by the Ministry of Culture on behalf of the Government, recognize people or personalities who have excelled in any field of artistic creation, letters, cinema, photography, design, music or dance, and who have contributed to promoting the art or the conservation of the national artistic patrimony.

This year the awarding of the medals is celebrated again, after the edition that took place last March at the Palacio de Congresos de Navarra, in Pamplona, ​​a year late due to the pandemic. The Kings then presided over that ceremony that gave us the image of both going down the steps of the stage to deliver their medal to a convalescent Antonio Resinesrecently recovered from Covid.

On this occasion, the event will take place at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes. There the Head of State and his wife will deliver the recognitions to 31 personalities and entities. The most anticipated photo will be that of the Kings with Bardem, the first Spanish actor to win the Hollywood statuette for No country for old menin 2008. The interpreter, husband of Penelope Cruzhas worked with the greatest: Ridley Scott, Woody Allen, Milos Forman, Michael Mann and John Malkovich.

Also distinguished in the field of cinema is the director Bollain (I give you my eyes, Maixabel), member of the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain and founder, along with other filmmakers, of the Association of Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media; and the director Agustí Villaronga (Bye Black y The boy and the moon).

In addition, they are awarded Javier Gurruchaga, who founded the Mondragón Orchestra in 1976; and the designer Ana Locking. In the photo below, the musician, who attended the reception at the Royal Palace presided over by Don Felipe and Doña Letizia on October 12.

The dressmaker Ana Locking collected last July the National Design Award from the hands of Letizia, accompanied by an affectionate greeting from the Queen, as I saw in the ceremony that took place in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. Locking’s careful designs are in Letizia’s dressing room. The admiration is mutual.

The dancer completes the list Maribel Gallardothe poetess Julia Uceda Bravethe Max Aub Foundation, cartoonist paco rock, Jaume Plensathe photographer colitissinger-songwriter and poet Paul Guerrerothe photojournalist Chema Conesathe soprano Session Hernandezthe writer Juan Munoz Martin; and game developers Peace Portal y paco suarez.