2024 Highlight: Spotlights, Selfies and the Spanish Royal Family
Magnum receives the Princess of Asturias Award For Concord in Oviedo, Spain, with behind-the-scenes images from Thomas Dworzak
Every October since 1981, crowds gather in the city of Oviedo, Asturias in northern Spain to celebrate the Princess of Asturias Awards — eight prizes awarded to a range of individuals or organizations from around the world for their achievements in the sciences, humanities, or public affairs, issued by the Princess of Asturias Foundation. Led by the Prince or Princess of Asturias, currently Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne as eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, the Foundation’s aim is to promote “scientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of the universal heritage of humanity.”
Declared an “exceptional contribution to the cultural heritage of Humanity,” by UNESCO in 2004, the awards are considered one of the most prestigious accolades in the eyes of the Spanish population, and every year the Awards Ceremony is accompanied by a host of events, activities, and celebrations throughout the week.
"Since its founding, Magnum Photos has documented the most significant events of our time via images that provide a valuable testament to recent history."
- Teresa Sanjurjo, Director of the Princess of Asturias Foundation
In June 2024, Magnum Photos was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord, a special distinction awarded for “the work of defending and generalizing human rights, the promotion and protection of peace, freedom, solidarity, world heritage and, in general, the progress of humanity.” Magnum was one of 38 candidates from 19 countries competing for this year’s Concord Award.
“In a demonstration of press freedom and risk-taking, Magnum Photos has safeguarded and conveyed the testimony of the most significant events of its time, contributing, through imagery, to raising humanity’s awareness,” the official statement reads.
In October, Cristina de Middel, Olivia Arthur and Thomas Dworzak (the current and previous cooperative Presidents) traveled to Oviedo for the Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Spanish Royal Family and the Princess of Asturias Foundation. For one week, the three photographers participated in a host of talks, public events, and workshops organized in collaboration with the Foundation.
Below, we see a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes images by Dworzak from throughout the week — scenes of spotlights, selfies, and the Spanish Royal Family themselves.
The Awards ceremony took place on October 25 at the Campoamor Theatre. Magnum took to the stage alongside fellow 2024 winners, including French-Iranian graphic novelist Marjane Satrapi for the Communication and Humanities Award, Spanish singer Joan Manuel Serrat for the Arts, and Canadian author and former politician Michael Ignatieff for the Social Sciences Award.
Alongside the Award Ceremony, a major group exhibition took place at the Fábrica de Armas de la Vega in the city center. Bringing together 112 images from Spain, spanning 80 years and captured by a total of 46 photographers, the exhibition was a true exploration of the country as documented through the Magnum archive, from Capa and Taro’s images of the Spanish Civil War to Magnum’s three Spanish photographers — Lúa Ribeira, Cristina García Rodero, and De Middel herself.
“Brief moments in time are filtered through each photographer’s unique gaze, which collectively offers an interpretation that is as critical as it is poetic — painting a very singular picture of the country,” wrote Gloria Crespo on the exhibition (read the article here).
A second exhibition took place focusing on the work of co-founder David “Chim” Seymour during the Spanish Civil War. Chim had been posted in Ovideo in 1937, and carefully documented life in the trenches surrounding the town. A visitor from Oviedo allegedly broke into tears upon finding an image of her father in the exhibition.
De Middel, Dworzak and Arthur each hosted a talk to members of the public throughout the week: Dworzak at the Muséu del Pueblo d’Asturies in neighboring Gijón to a crowd of 130 photojournalists, Arthur at the Aviles Art School in front of over 100 art students, and De Middel at the Fábrica de Armas de la Vega for students of a school in Asturias.
Two workshops took place during the week, one, titled The Language of Images led by Magnum’s Head of Education, Sonia Jeunet, and a group of 60 participants. The second was the largest Magnum-held workshop to date, including over 200 participants, and led by De Middel, Dworzak and Arthur in the exhibition space.
"This award represents a major boost for the agency and encourages us to continue working to build a fairer world, one far removed from extremism and fanaticism."
- Cristina de Middel
“It is a huge honor to receive the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord; even more so at a time when Magnum Photos has a Spanish president,” De Middel wrote in her statement. “This award represents a major boost for the agency and encourages us to continue working to build a fairer world, one far removed from extremism and fanaticism.”
