The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, presented the 2019 National Culture Award in a ceremony held at the Casona Cultural Aquiles Nazoa in Caracas where he was accompanied by the Minister of Popular Power for Culture, Ernesto Villegas, and various personalities from Venezuelan culture.
On this occasion, the honored are:
- Carlos Alberto Manrique Ríos, a prominent Venezuelan painter and sculptor, was awarded in the plastic arts mention.
- The merideño and renowned toymaker Mario Alfredo Calderón Velásquez was honored in the crafts category.
- The teacher José Matamoros was recognized in the category of architecture.
- The writer, narrator, poet, essayist, compiler and translator Gabriel Jiménez Emán won the award in the Literature mention.
- Carmen Beatriz Hurtado Aguilarte took the distinction in the Popular Culture category, for her dedication in preserving the Guiana joropo.
- The award in the field of cinema was awarded to the director María Teresa Galán Bombín.
- The teacher Ogli Jesús Olivero Ruíz won the recognition in the Dance category.
- Photographer Vladimir Sersa won the award and was honored for his career in the photographic area.
- The award in the Humanities category was awarded to Marie Henriette Jacqueline Clarac.
- Fedérico Alberto Ruiz Hurtado and José Luis León won Music and Theater.
- The Mapoyo chief José Simón Bastidas was awarded in the Traditional Knowledge category for his effort in defending and safeguarding our cultural heritage.
- Venezuelan graphic artist with more than fifty years of experience, Santiago Pol, was recognized in design.
- On radio, where the famous announcer Porfirio Torres was the winner and on Television, a distinction obtained by the entertainer and announcer Wiston Vallenilla.
In addition, an honorary award was given to the teacher Gloria Martín, who is an outstanding singer-songwriter and a reference in cultural promotion and activation; while director Diego Rísquez, received an honorable mention post morten.
VTV
