The Fair Saturday Awards were born in Bilbao in 2017 with the aim of recognising, on an international level, the initiatives of inspiring individuals and organisations that have demonstrated a social impact through art and culture.
This award emphasises the value of promoting new models of action with the mission of generating more inclusive, fair and sustainable growth.
The awards ceremony is traditionally held at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, and is attended by a wide range of representatives from the institutional, cultural and social spheres.
These awards are gaining impact and visibility among a new generation of international prizes and awards for social innovation.
“A project like Fair Saturday makes us, WOMAD, feel great and makes us see that we are not wrong”
“It is one of the most innovative positive initiatives to build a better society. Every city should have its own Fair Saturday”
“A global cultural project that […] generates an important social impact with the aim of placing art and culture at the centre of society”
Fair Saturday Awards 2021
Karim Wasfi
Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra I Peace Through Arts Inc.
This award recognises the work of Iraqi conductor and cellist Karim Wasfi in the use of music for the development of humanist “new leaders” and social
regeneration in Iraq.
With over two decades of experience in cultural diplomacy, Karim is a leading figure in the use of music as a tool for healing, intercultural integration, de-radicalisation, tension prevention and the fight against violence and terrorism. He currently conducts the Iraq Symphony Orchestra
and is the founder of Peace Through Arts.
Ahmad Sarmast
Founder and Director of Afghanistan ́s National Music School
This award recognises the exceptional work of Ahmad Sarmast – founder of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music – in cultural, ethnic, religious and gender integration through arts education in Afghanistan.
Since 2010 he has worked tirelessly – even at the risk of his life- to enable arts education for young people in Afghanistan. From the very first steps of
the National Institute of Music he was clear about his priority around the cultural integration of women and people in the most vulnerable situations. Ahmad was instrumental in securing the artistic rights of civil society, transforming lives, and contributing to the establishment of a just and civil society in an internally fractured country. Since August, Ahmad has been working to ensure the safety of his students and to fight for the cultural rights of the Afghan people.
International Society for Performing Arts
David Baile
CEO International Society for performing Arts (ISPA)
This award recognises ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts) for its fundamental work in generating international encounters and dialogue through culture, leading a worldwide network of more than 500 cultural and performing arts leaders with a presence in more than 185 cities around the world.
Since its foundation in 1949, ISPA has played a fundamental role as a driving force for collaboration, cooperation and partnership between leading agents of the performing arts on a global level, promoting the creation of bridges and links between territories and people.
Henry Timms
Founder of Giving Tuesday and President of Linconln Center Society for Perfroming Arts
This award recognises Henry Timms’ outstanding ability to inspire throughout his career, especially as the founder of the Giving Tuesday movement and for his work as president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Henry is one of the world’s foremost international leaders for his vision and ability to launch initiatives – especially 92nd Street and Giving Tuesday – to create better societies based on greater social empathy. He is undoubtedly remarkable for his work as a humanist leader, re-imagining futures from a local but global perspective, inspiring other people and organisations and connecting communities around the world. In 2014 he was named the most influential person of the year in the world of social organisations.
Humanity at Music
Iñigo Albizuri
Creator of Humanity at Music project I Global Public Affers of Mondragon Corporation
This award recognises the MCC for the “Humanity at music” project-as well as its alma mater, Iñigo Albizuri-for its capacity for innovation and social impact in the celebration of the 52nd anniversary of the Mondragon Corporation.
“Humanity at Music” is an innovative inter-cooperative artistic project in which the cooperative experience of the MCC is narrated through different artistic disciplines. It is undoubtedly one of the most recent and best examples of cultural and social innovation in the world of business. “Humanity at music” is a real case that demonstrates the capacity to generate bonds within a business collective around music, dance, or poetry. This modern opera – composed by Fernando Velázquez – highlights the values of cooperation, responsibility and the common good in the cooperatives of the MCC group.
Moving Artists Project
Ixone Sádaba
Founder of Moving Artists Project
This award recognises the work of the project “Moving Artists” -founded by Ixone Sádaba- in supporting and protecting artists in conflict zones.
Since its creation in 2017, “Moving Artists” has been working with a central idea: in situations of conflict or crisis, contemporary artistic practice is an intangible heritage at risk of disappearing that we must protect. Since then, “Moving Artists” has been working to facilitate the mobility of artists to and from culturally isolated areas, promoting creation in times of crisis, building bridges,
and drawing future scenarios.
“Moving Artists” is a pioneering project that goes beyond the protection of monuments and works of art in places of conflict. Through its vision, it aims to protect and help people capable of generating positive change through culture.
Fair Saturday Awards 2019
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra
This award recognises the Daniel Barenboim Foundation and the West Eastern Divan Orchestra for being an inspiration and an international reference on the use of music as a generator of a positive social impact in situations of conflict; acting as a vehicle to promote tolerance, acceptance and understanding between different people. For his achievements in breaking down barriers and establishing dialogue between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples through music.
Artscape Theatre Centre
This award recognises the courage and determination shown by Marlene le Roux as a human rights activist and social leader for the rights of minorities and vulnerable groups in Cape Town. For his example in promoting social justice through culture at the Artscape Theatre Centre, making it a benchmark for inclusion and civic empowerment, facilitating access to culture for the people of Cape Town, especially groups at risk of exclusion.
Ingoma Nshya, Woman Cultural Centre
Ingoma Nshya is Rwanda’s first group of female drummers, acting as a catalyst for increasing women’s participation in Rwanda’s development and becoming a powerful symbol of optimism and hope on the 25th anniversary of the genocide. Ingoma Nshya’s initiative has a very positive impact on her environment, changing the perception of women’s role in the community and empowering them through drumming.
16km Festival. Voces Foundation
This award recognises the example of Voces Foundation with its project “16kms” for its work in the social inclusion of young Roma people in La Cañada Real, opening up new perspectives for training and professional development through audiovisual creation. By breaking harmful stereotypes, raising people’s self-esteem and pride and steering young people away from potential risky behaviour.
Musical Bridges around the World
Musical Bridges around the World has become one of the leading diversity organisations in Texas. This award recognises its consistent work over the years, staying true to its principles especially in times of international instability. For his work in making music accessible, promoting multiculturalism as a necessary feature for future social and economic development.
Cine Invisible International Festival
This award honours the example of the International Invisible Film Festival, which uses film as a tool to generate social change, promote diversity, provoke reflection, raise awareness of multiculturalism, fight for equal opportunities and the social commitment of young people. For its exceptional work in the promotion of films on different social issues, generating an international meeting around audiovisual creation and social justice.
Lita Cabellut, Fair Saturday Ad Honorem Award
For his vital example, for his artistic and personal strength, for the humanist sensitivity that his works transmit. This award not only wishes to recognise his brilliant career, but also his commitment to the human being, bearing in mind the “forgotten of society” in his works. For being a source of inspiration for many people in difficult situations who still have dreams. And for hundreds of artists and cultural organisations around the world. Among them, Fair Saturday.
Fair Saturday Awards 2018
Sleep in the Park
It is one of the main projects of Social Bite, which aims to end homelessness by facilitating access to a home, resources and work for people affected by homelessness. A night in which thousands of people sleep in the open with only a sleeping bag to raise awareness of the problem and generate funds to continue the fight.
Symphony for Peru
It promotes musical training for young people living at risk and has 21 centres and a total of 7,000 beneficiaries. Its training system has had a far-reaching impact on the self-esteem, creativity, identity and ambition of thousands of young people in the country. Today it has become an international case study of how music can transform entire communities.
BEMIS Scotland
BEMIS is an umbrella organisation for and supports minority ethnic organisations, communities and individuals in the Scottish third sector and the communities they support. BEMIS presents an innovative vision in the field of social inclusion. A new way of working on integration, based on the recognition and enhancement of the differences, identities and individualities of the different cultures of a country.
Nalaga’at Center
Nalaga’at Center is one of the most innovative cultural centres in Israel; it is a cultural centre that aims to create a meeting place for the blind, the deaf and the general public. The aim is to send a message to the world that culture must be universally accessible, and that it is necessary to ensure access to it regardless of personal abilities, on an equal footing, generating new, more inclusive and developed atmospheres.
WOMAD Festival
It was one of the first large-scale festivals to focus on multiculturalism and ethnic and popular music. In addition, the WOMAD philosophy has made it possible to introduce many artists to an international audience with a concept that is based on enthusiasm for all forms of music with a strong pro-diversity character. The award recognises Peter Gabriel’s commitment to creating a new festival concept that was created to promote the richness of the world’s cultures, to make new styles of music visible and to encourage diversity and multiculturalism.
British Paraorchestra
The world’s first orchestra of professional musicians with disabilities. Founded in the city of Bristol in 2012, they managed to perform at the closing of the London Paralympic Games in the launch year and at the Glastonbury Festival in 2016. The award recognises the brilliant work of Paraorchestra & Friends and its musical ensembles in providing innovative and high quality music combined with its social and inclusive nature. For their continued work to end the limitations that have been imposed on these musicians, not so much because of their physical limitations, but because of the lack of opportunities.
Fair Saturday founding artists
This award has gone to the 22 choirs and 3 soloists who participated for the first time in Fair Saturday 2014, performing on 29 November, all at 20:15h and supporting a social project in each event. A pilot edition in which all of them proved that this little madness could become a reality. We thank them for their courage, their vision, their trust and their involvement in the growth of Fair Saturday.
Richard Demarco, Fair Saturday Ad Honorem Award
Renowned promoter of visual and performing arts. For years his gallery “Richard Demarco Gallery” promoted cultural links with Eastern Europe by organising exhibitions of contemporary Polish art and was responsible for promoting the connection between Scottish artists and artists from the rest of Europe. Demarco has been one of the biggest promoters of Scottish art internationally and has worked to make art and culture accessible to everyone regardless of their background.
Fair Saturday Awards 2017
Edinburgh International Festival
For the spirit forged in 1947 after the second world war, betting on culture as an engine of development. And for turning the city of Edinburgh into an annual meeting point for people of different nationalities, achieving a massive mobilisation of society around art and culture that throughout its 70 editions has become an international example without losing its Scottish roots.
Yehudi Menuhin Foundation
For its pioneering work in social and cultural inclusion of disadvantaged children, using art as a tool for social cohesion, promoting coexistence and tolerance, and defending the rights of cultural minorities.Following at all times the mandate of its founder Yehudi Menuhin “It is to fight against the injustices I have seen throughout my life that I create a Foundation that bears my name”.
National Batuta Foundation
For its great work in the generation of spaces for reconciliation and coexistence through the use of culture and education as tools for social transformation. For transforming the lives of thousands of children and young people through music. And for making music itself a bulwark in the process of reconciliation and in the construction of a hopeful future for Colombia.
La Tarumba
They are considered the most important circus company in Peru and one of the most successful independent cultural organisations in the country. Since 2006 they promote and produce the “Festival del Círculo, Arte del Mundo”, which aims to develop culture and spread the power of art for social transformation. For its constant training work in the first professional circus school in Peru and its commitment to the inclusion of young people at risk of exclusion, demonstrating that culture is key to the inclusive and democratic development processes of a society.
D. Antonio Garrigues Walker, Fair Saturday Ad Honorem Award
For his constant work throughout his career in support of the world of culture, especially in the field of theatre; expressing that culture is the only solution to dignify democracy, to generate authentic wealth and to be able to aspire to a humane future. In addition to their support for the impossible idea of Fair Saturday since its inception, as well as the generosity shown at all times by accompanying its growth and offering constant support.