The 2015 award ceremony turned out to be a very special experience for all in attendance. The year 2016 brings important things for the Brazilian Association of Art Critics (ABCA). In addition to the traditional and well-deserved recognition of the professionals selected by the Association members dispersed throughout Brazil, a new board chaired by María Amélia Bulhões took over in January for the 2016-2018 period. In addition to expanding on the accomplishments of the previous administration, the new board also plans to strengthen the ties between members from different regions, intensifying their involvement in a broader and more inclusive manner, with the goal of broadening the spaces for participation outside Río de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Another addition to the agenda is the new ABCA Award trophy, which continues with the tradition of the generous artists that have donated their sculptures to the institution. Following the steps of Nicolás Vlavianos, now María Bonomi accepted the Association's invitation to create and execute the piece that will be given to the winners beginning this year.
As is already tradition, the event was held at the SESC Vila Mariana auditorium, in São Paulo, and was preceded by the presentation of an instrumental pocket music show. During the coffee gathering offered before the ceremony, associates from different parts of Brazil had animated conversations with each other. The night was attended by a lively public and the acceptance speeches were characterized for the enthusiastic participation of several family members of the award recipients. Also noteworthy of mention: many of the awarded acknowledged the contributions of those whose names are on the awards and whose trajectories are deserving of continuous reverence.
Here is the list of winners:
Gonzaga Duque Award (affiliated critic, for his/her performance during the year): Enock Sacramento.
Sergio Milliet Award (author, for a published research): Annateresa Fabris, for the book La Fotografía y la Crisis de la Modernidad (Photography and the Crisis of Modernity). Belo Horizonte, Editora C/Arte, 2015.
Mario Pedrosa Award (artist using contemporary language): Marcello Nitsche.
Ciccillo Matarazzo Award (personality active in the field): Danilo Santos de Miranda.
Mario de Andrade Award (trajectory of an affiliated or non-affiliated critic): Lisbeth Rebollo-Gonçalves.
Clarival do Claro Valladares Award (artist, for his/her trajectory): Claudio Tozzi.
Maria Eugênia Franco Award (curator, for an exhibition): Ana Maria Belluzo for the exhibition "Lig Des. Marcello Nitsche."
Rodrigo Mello Franco de Andrade Award (institution, for its program): Centro Cultural Banco del Brasil.
Paulo Mendes de Almeida Award (best exhibition): "África Africans," presented at the Museo Afro Brasil, São Paulo.
Antonio Bento Award (Exposure of the visual arts in the media): Globo News em Pauta.
Tributes:
Antonio Santoro Junior, Maureen Bisilliat, Paulo Bomfim.
Honourable mentions:
Aracy Amaral, Instituo Olga Kos Inclusión Cultural, Percival Tirapeli.