BBVA Sant Joan Award, support for Catalan culture and territory

The BBVA Sant Joan Prize for Catalan Literature, created in 1981 by the social work of Caixa Sabadell, is a cultural benchmark. This award, now celebrating its 45th edition, has continued thanks to the support of BBVA. Furthermore, to promote new generations of writers in Catalan, the bank and the Fundació de Antigues Caixes Catalanes have created a new category for writers up to 35 years old for the next edition.

The winner of this edition was Aida Sunyol with her first novel MercrominaAfter hearing the news, he held a meeting with the country manager BBVA's director in Spain, Peio Belausteguigoitia. Both agreed on the importance of promoting education and culture for social development.

"The BBVA Sant Joan Prize for Catalan Literature reflects BBVA's commitment to regional balance and its involvement with Catalan society and culture," Belausteguigoitia stated. This proximity, he emphasized, "given that we are the second-largest bank in Catalonia in terms of branches, allows us to meet the needs of families, institutions, and businesses and to play an active role in society."

Sunyol, proud to have been selected from among the 99 works submitted, stated that "winning this award is a great honor, considering the stature of the writers who make up the long list of winners." The award represents a platform for international visibility and exposure, with nearly 2,500 works submitted over its 45-year history.

Belausteguigoitia emphasized that the writer "is a clear example that there is, has been, and will be a great deal of talent in the world of Catalan literature."

"This collaboration is another expression of BBVA's strong support for the projects of the foundations of the former Catalan savings banks, not only in the fields of education and culture, as in this case, but also in the areas of social inclusion, sustainability and entrepreneurship," added the country manager from BBVA in Spain.