Eduardo Costantini will be recognized in Spain for his contribution to Latin American art
The businessman and collector will receive the International Patronage Award from Queen Sofia, in a ceremony to be held on March 3 at the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid
The Argentine businessman and art collector Eduardo Costantini will be recognized at the 10th edition of the International Patronage Awards for his work in the dissemination and promotion of Latin American art. The Latin American award of these prizes will be presented to him by Queen Sofia, mother of Felipe VI of Spain, during a ceremony to be held at the historic Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, in the heart of Madrid, on Monday, March 3.
In addition to Costantini, this year's edition will award Simon de Pury, a renowned patron of contemporary art, and the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, known for its support of artists active in the international arena. These awards, organized by the Callia Foundation, continue a tradition that has honored emblematic figures such as Patty Phelps de Cisneros, Carlos Slim and Jorge M. Pérez in past editions.
The winners will also be honored with a gala at the Gallery of the Royal Collections, a new museum in the Spanish capital located in the Royal Palace, which has positioned itself as a cultural reference for the city in the 21st century. The evening will be an opportunity to highlight not only the contributions of the winners, but also the ethical and moral values that drive their initiatives.
The International Patronage Awards, established to promote support for the arts, go beyond simple financial recognition. According to Carmen Reviriego, president of the Callia Foundation, they are “a declaration of love to our patrons, who through their commitment to art contribute to building a more sensitive and humane society, and therefore, more fraternal.”
The International Patronage Awards are an invitation to other leaders to get involved in the conservation and dissemination of art. By highlighting the commitment and courage of its winners, this initiative seeks to inspire men and women around the world to continue the legacy of supporting artistic and cultural talent.
In this spirit, the Callia Foundation was recognized in 2024 with the Medal of Honor for Fine Arts in Spain, an award previously awarded to institutions such as the Museo del Prado and the Fundación Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza. This achievement underlines the importance of patronage as a driving force for preserving and promoting artistic heritage.
Eduardo Costantini during the presentation
Costantini, founder of the Museum of Latin American Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA), began his journey in collecting in the 1970s, building one of the most relevant collections of modern and contemporary art in Latin America. MALBA, inaugurated in 2001, has established itself as a cultural epicenter that combines exhibitions, educational programs and international artistic exchange.
In 2023, Costantini expanded his legacy with the opening of Malba Puertos, a new headquarters located in Escobar, Buenos Aires. “The Council asked me for a place and Puertos came to mind. Then I thought: ‘Why only the technical reserve? Why not an exhibition hall? ’ I contacted a great Spanish architect, Juan Herreros, and we began to fantasize: the technical reserve, a hall… And then when I bought Gabriel Chaile’s work, I said ‘Well, let’s make a pavilion for the work. ’ That’s how the project grew,” Infobae Cultura told in August 2024.
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