Patronage has no borders
Throughout the history of art, patrons have played a fundamental role in the creation, preservation and dissemination of different artistic works.
Figures such as Mary of Hungary, who promoted the work of Titian; Lorenzo de Medici, who supported outstanding figures such as Sandro Botticelli and Michelangelo; Philip IV of Spain with his support for Diego Velázquez; and Isabel II, who promoted the conservation of Spanish artistic heritage.
Today, there are new forms of patronage. In a first stage there are the “friends” of museums. In an interview for AllaborChannel, Isaac Cerdeira Reviriego, general director of the Callia Foundation, underlined the importance of the figure of the patron: “Patronage is within everyone’s reach. An excellent way to get started is to become a “friend” of a museum in your city. This first step not only supports and promotes culture, but also helps to understand the impact that patronage has on society and artistic institutions.”
The idea to create the Callia Foundation arose 15 years ago, during a trip that the president and founder, Carmen Reviriego, made through Latin America “with the purpose of writing a book and there she saw the need to Americanize Latin American society in the field of philanthropy and social commitment,” said Isaac Cerdeira Reviriego.
He also highlighted: “Latin America has great potential to learn from Anglo-Saxon culture in terms of patronage and philanthropy, especially how these practices are deeply integrated into society, companies and institutions.”
Regarding the objectives of the Foundation, Isaac Cerdeira highlighted two points: “the commitment to art and the promotion of patronage.” Regarding the impact generated, he highlighted: “during these last four years we have restored more than 60 works by great masters such as Rubens, Goya or Brueghel, more than 30 international speakers have participated, more than 50 artists and we have contributed to a 72% increase in visits to the Royal Academy. In addition, the Callia Foundation has been recognized with the Medal of Honor for Fine Arts 2024, a very prestigious award that has been received by institutions such as the Museo del Prado or the Spanish Academy in Rome, which reaffirms our commitment to art and helps us continue to fulfill our goals.”
Looking to the future, he commented: “the awards have evolved from being an Ibero-American recognition to become an international platform that celebrates patronage without borders, consolidating itself as the International Patronage Awards.”
These awards are charitable in favor of the restoration and conservation program of the Collection of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, in Madrid. The awards are given in three categories: Latin American, International and Spanish. Regarding its 10th edition, which will be held in 2025, the director of the Foundation said: “It will not be just another edition, we are going to work to make them more memorable and for this year the gala will be held for the first time in the Gallery of the Royal Collections.”
Notable businessmen, lovers of international art, have received it, among them: the Americans Daniel and Estrellita Brodsky; the Venezuelan Patricia Phelps de Cisneros; the Italian Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo; the Mexicans Carlos Slim, Valentín Diez Morodo and Eugenio López; and the Frenchman Daniel Buren; among others.