Every August 9, the Ecuadorian government awards the Eugenio Espejo National Culture Prize to its most outstanding men and women in the fields of arts, sciences, cultural activity and institutional work. Of this year's winners, two in particular should be singled out: Papá Roncón and Luigi Stornaiolo. The former is undoubtedly one of the greatest cultivators of Afro-Ecuadorian music. The latter is an artist of enormous dimensions who has critically managed to satirize an indolent society. Papá Roncón had to perform countless work activities to survive. And Luigi had to survive a progressive illness that even forced him to relearn not only to paint but to live, and despite this he never lost his sense of humor and even worse his passion. Just a month ago, Papá Roncón tried to sell his marimba to be able to finance his medical prescriptions, because at his age, 84, he had no other choice, since like many artists he does not have social security. This situation reveals that, despite the 4 and a half years of the Citizen Revolution, the State, in culture, is still late. And this must be assumed with full self-critical conviction. The lesson of Milton Tadeo (who died abandoned and without any state aid) has not yet been learned. The Espejo Prize will allow Papá Roncón, at least, to have a dignified old age. Just as it will allow Rafael Díaz Icaza and José Amén Palma to have a dignified death, as has happened with the majority of the award winners. But is that the role of a national prize? Is that the role of the highest recognition that the government grants? As Miguel Donoso Pareja says, prizes should serve not only to stimulate and motivate, but to open doors, to project and also to consecrate, but in the fullness of a life.
It is necessary and urgent to undertake a change and update the Espejo Prize and give it another dimension and projection. The prize was initially awarded every two years, then it was instituted every year and in five categories, which is excessive. The Science Prize, for example, should be awarded by Cenescyt. In the same way that, recently, the national government regulated the awarding of decorations, it should now, through the Ministry of Culture, articulate the Espejo Prize to the National Prize System, where all the recognitions and incentives for the different artistic expressions should be regulated. For now, at least there is the satisfaction of recognizing, at the end of the day, the creative work of a lifetime.
Pablo Salgado. Ministry of Heritage Coordination.
PHOTO: Stepbrothers, the blog
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