If there were to be an illustration award, it would bear the name Miguel Calatayud, a generous and deeply connected figure in this town. Rosa Ruiz Martinez, a member of the Aspe Cultural Council, highlights that Calatayud is a three-time National Illustration Award recipient and stands as a leading representative of the Valencian school movement that reshaped the world of comics in the 1980s.
The award has been nurtured for years by Degomagom, the publishing house based in Ibi led by Octavia Ferrero. The collaboration with the Aspense Municipality culminated in the launch of the first edition, created to spur creativity in the illustration field.
Deadlines and essentials
The submission window opened on December 29 and closes on March 27, with the final decision announced on April 23, coinciding with Book Day. The winning work will be published by Degomagom this year. Anyone aged 18 or older, residing in Spain or elsewhere, may participate by sending a single album that combines pictures and text. The work must be unpublished and range from 32 to 44 pages, aimed at children and young readers.
Children and youth audiences are the intended focus, and the project invites creators to propose a picture book that blends illustration with storytelling in a unified album.
Origin
As a publisher, Degomagom sought to tether the picture book award to a broader visibility, noting that recognition in this area remains scarce. Ferrero explains that only a few publishers in Spain, such as Kalandraka or Buen Paso, stand out alongside Degomagom. She receives numerous offers from authors and is confident that many will submit to the competition.
Degomagom began its journey in 2018, inspired by the Aspe illustrator who contributed the initial catalog piece Imagine Peter Pan, a picture book with illustrations and a story by Calatayud and Manuel Roig.
Calatayud will preside over the event. Ferrero expresses pride that the award carries his name, a fitting tribute since the publishing house largely began with Miguel, his Peter Pan, and a desire to create something meaningful with him. The competition jury has already been selected and will finalize its decisions soon.
The appreciation for such initiatives is evident. Ferrero, who recently received the Miguel Hernández 2022 Award from the Alicante City Council, anticipates a strong field of applicants. Calatayud himself jokes about the process, noting the excitement and the respect earned through years of work. The mayor of Aspense Culture, though modest about praise, recalls how Calatayud willingly collaborated with the town and how his drawings often reflect Aspe’s profiles and contours.
Calatayud exhibition
The cultural authority confirms that the award aims to become an annual event, with this year designated as the year of Miguel Calatayud. With more than five decades in illustration, writing, and painting, Calatayud is set to be the centerpiece of Aspense cultural life. The new cultural center, located in the municipal park of La Coca, is planned to open in late February or early March and will host an exhibition showcasing the works Calatayud is currently developing. He states that the work is complete and plans to share some pieces previously shown in Valencia, alongside new and unseen works. He remains active, even if his pace has slowed over time, and will be the subject of a 2023 exhibition at the Center del Carme in Valencia, curated by José Luis Pérez Pont.