“If we were to create an illustration award, it had to be in the name of Miguel Calatayud, who has been very generous and connected with this town,” he says. Rosa Ruiz MartinezMember of the Aspe Cultural Council, place of origin three times National Illustration Award and one of the greatest representatives of the artistic movement of the new era Valencian school What It revolutionized the world of comics in the ’80s.
The award has been prepared for years by the head of the publishing house headquartered in Ibi Degomagom. Octavia Ferrero Finally, the call made with Aspense Municipality a few days ago for this first edition, which was created to encourage creativity in the field of illustration, bore fruit.
Deadlines and essentials
The deadline for submissions, the basics of which can be viewed on the publisher’s website, was opened on 29 December and Closes on March 27or, while the decision will be announced on April 23, 2023On the occasion of Book Day. The winning work will be published by Degomagom this year..
All authors and illustrators can participate in the competition. from the age of 18 submitting a work, regardless of its place of origin or residence Spanish. The album may consist of pictures or images and text, and the work must be a minimum of 32 pages and a maximum of 44 pages. Works must be unpublished and The project presented should be aimed at children and youth.
origin
“As a publisher, we wanted the picture book award to be tied together because gives you more visibility and as there is almost no recognition in this areaThere are only two or three publishers in Spain like Kalandraka or Buen Paso”, explains Ferrero, who as editor receives numerous offers from authors and is confident that many of them will submit their work to the competition.
Degomagom started his journey in the year 2018 By the hand of the illustrator from Aspe, precisely because there was only one work in his catalogue: Imagine Peter PanIllustrated album released by the publishing house with illustrations and a story by Calatayud Manuel Roig.
Adding that Calatayud will preside, Ferrero says, “I’m thrilled that the award is named after him, which is an honor because this publishing house started largely with Miguel, his Peter Pan, and I really want to do something with him.” The jury of the competition, which will be closed in a few days, has been determined.
“Something like this is always exciting and appreciated, Although it bothers me a little… I will be 81 years old”Highlighting the interest of Ferrero (both awarded the Miguel Hernández 2022 Award by the Alicante City Council last November) and Aspe City Council, and counting on the large number of candidates to present themselves as “quality”, Calatayud himself jokes. ” works for selection.
The mayor of Aspense Culture, Calatayud, who is not very open to flattery and flattery, “He didn’t want it at first because he was so humble, but eventually we convinced him and he already made the prize himself”after remembering that the illustrator has devotedly collaborated with this town hall many times and that in his drawings “many times you can recognize many profiles or contours of Aspe”.
Calatayud exhibition
The person in charge of culture assures that the award is born for the purpose of meeting each year, emphasizing that the consortium wants this year to be the “year of Miguel Calatayud”. over fifty years of experience in illustration, as a writer and painter. Actually aspense cartoonist naming the showroom The city’s new cultural center, located in the municipal park of La Coca, which intends to open in late February or early March with an exhibition valuing the work that Calatayud is currently working on.
“The work is already done and I will take the opportunity to show some of the things I showed in Valencia years ago and I will also include some. News and the last thing i did with unseen jobs, Now I’m still active even though I do less than I used to” Announcing Calatayud, who will also be the hero of an exhibition in 2023 at the Center del Carme in Valencia, directed by José Luis Pérez Pont.