Durango has celebrated the award ceremony for its 17th children's drawing, painting, and crafts contest, an event consolidated within the Euskal Jaiak cultural calendar. This year, 1,259 students from six educational centers in Durango participated, and the exhibition at the Sala Ezkurdi received over 2,300 visitors, a notable 35% increase compared to the previous edition.
The ceremony took place in Plaza Ezkurdi, bringing together numerous families, participants, and institutional representatives. A total of 720 works were exhibited, with 561 in drawing and painting and 159 in crafts. These pieces reflect the children's creativity, imagination, and personal experiences.
The collective highlighted the role of art as a tool for integration, expression, and personal development, emphasizing the importance of bringing culture to the public and normalizing its presence in the daily lives of children.
The exhibition was open for three weeks in the Sala Ezkurdi. The event was inaugurated by Mireia Elkoroiribe, the mayor of Durango, who thanked those involved in making the annual contest possible and honored the legacy of José Luis Martínez de Antoñana, the contest's promoter and president of the Asociación Artística del Duranguesado for over two decades.
The association specifically thanked the educational community, including the centers Landako, Zabalarra, Kurutziaga, Nevers, San Antonio-Santa Rita, and San José Jesuitas, as well as the collaboration of the Durango City Council and its volunteer team.
The morning also featured a live performance by El Reciclador 10, who presented a song specially composed for this edition. Additionally, several children from the Landako school assisted in the award ceremony. A total of 37 young artists received their awards on stage.
