Only painters from the Comunitat Valenciana can apply for one of the most important art prizes in Spain with a total prize of 22.000€. The Juan José Castellano Comenge Foundation (FJJCC) (https://fundacionjjcc.com/) has published today on its website the terms and conditions of one of the most important art prizes in Spain and the one with the largest prize money in the Valencian Community. All those selected will participate in a major exhibition at the Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània (CCCC) at the end of the year, with the collaboration of the Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana (CMCV) and a jury will be formed to select the two winning works that the FJJCC will acquire for its collection and thus achieve one of its main objectives: to promote and disseminate the art of the Comunitat Valenciana.

The IV BIENNIAL Mª ISABEL COMENGE, endowed with €22,000, begins its journey today, without the presence of its promoter, Juan José Castellano Comenge, who passed away just over a year ago, but with a board of trustees who have taken over the baton and who have been giving a boost to the continuity of the projects that the Valencian businessman left in charge. Thus, Vicente Castellano, Javier García del Moral, Juan Manuel Lalanne, María Dolores Sancho, Horacio Silva and Enrique Vázquez will continue with the art biennials, which began in 2018.

Enrique Vázquez has been appointed president of the Foundation, created in 2016 by the businessman and art collector Juan José Castellano Comenge, after having held the position of vice-president from the beginning. Vázquez, managing partner of the tax law department of the law firm BROSETA -a Valencian firm with a national presence-, has been closely linked to the development of the main initiatives promoted by the foundation. Horacio Silvia will continue as art director of the outstanding collection, while María Dolores Sancho will remain in charge of the social action area. The vice-presidency will be held by Francisco Javier García del Moral.

In addition to the art biennials, the FJJCC bought a building in the Carmen neighbourhood with the intention of housing its collection: “We hope to be able to exhibit the next biennial in our new headquarters in the Plaza del Autor. There we will be able to show one of the most important collections of Valencian painting from the 20th and 21st centuries”, explains Enrique Vázquez, president of the FJJCC, who adds: “We know that it is important for Valencia and that we have the support of the city council, and it is also our wish to fulfil the dream of the driving force behind our foundation”.

The director of the Consorci de Museus de la Comunitat Valenciana, Nicolás Bugeda, highlighted “the quality of the works that each year compete for this prize, one of the most important in the country, both for its value and for the talent it brings together” and pointed out the importance of private patronage “which contributes to strengthening the artistic fabric of the Comunitat and which is another motivation to continue working, especially for emerging creation”.

In his line of support for Valencian artists, Bugeda recalled that “this year most of the Centre del Carme’s programme is dedicated to group exhibitions by artists from the Region, many of whom were affected by last year’s floods”.

The 3rd Biennial took place in 22nd and the 4th should have been held last year, but due to the death of Juan José Castellano Comenge it was decided to postpone it for a year. More than a hundred Valencian artists took part in the 3rd Biennial and 30 works were selected and exhibited at the Reales Atarazanas in Valencia. With his work Gross Nussknacker, 2022 Oliver Johnson won the First Prize of the III Biennial Mª Isabel Comenge, worth 15,000 euros. Keke Vilabelda’s work S/T Common Ground won the Second Prize of 7000 euros, while José Luis Cremades with his work Still Life and Sergio Barrera with Thizomes (Violonceous) No1 won the first and second runners-up prizes, respectively.

The Juan José Castellano Comenge Foundation is also dedicated to promoting social development in the Valencian Community, through various NGOs and associations, including Casa Caridad, Amigos de la Calle, the Awaken Smiles project of the Social Initiative Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright 24/7 Valencia

Photo info: Javier García del Moral, Maria Dolores Sancho, Horacio Silva, Enrique Vázquez, Vicente Castellano and Juan Manuel Lalanne.

More info: https://fundacionjjcc.com/