Queen Sofia wins Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award

The Queen of Spain was awarded for her patronage work by the Montblanc de la Culture Arts on Wednesday at Zarzuela Palace. Her Majesty is the first recipient of this year’s 20th anniversary award, which she won for her Queen Sofia Foundation.

Mr. Lutz Bethge, CEO Montblanc International, highlighted Queen Sofiaʼs commitment to the disadvantaged members of society and praised her efforts to help them get access to education and allow them to participate in cultural life, thus improving their future prospects.

Besides winning a trophy, the Queen also received a €15,000 check which she donated to her foundation.Set up in May 1977, the Queen Sofia Foundation is a non-profit and cultural organization. Since 1994, it has been running and promoting numerous educational and health projects. Furthermore, the foundation also promotes social and humanitarian aid projects, from which children, the elderly, immigrants, the disabled and those affected by natural disasters have been beneficiaries.

Each year, since 1992, the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award has recognised and celebrated the work of outstanding private patrons of the arts throughout the world and 2011 marks the 20^th anniversary of this unique award.

Itself an active corporate sponsor of a wide-ranging programme of cultural activities, Montblanc also believes in the crucial part to be played in the health of the arts, by passionate and committed individuals.

As a symbol of that belief, Montblanc has, since 1992, organised the annual Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award. A jury of internationally renowned artists chooses 12 winners from a shortlist of 36 (3 nominees in each country). The winner in each country receives a Montblanc Limited Edition ‘Patron of Art’ pen specially created for the Montblanc de la Culture and 15.000 EUR, which they donate to the arts programme of their choice.

The list of previous winners has been equally distinguished with such names as Dominique du Menil, Sir Simon Rattle, Susan Sontag, Lord Rothschild, Gian Carlo Menotti, Jackie Chan and Tamasaburo Bando.

To be chosen a winning patron has to demonstrate both a history of personal commitment to the arts but also a concern that the wider public should benefit as a result of that support. Montblanc is proud to honour the committed men and women who make up this year’s list of successful Nominees.