Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

7 P rince of A sturias A wards 1981-2014. S peeches Speech XXXIV On 24th September 1980, a small group of Asturians created our foundation, the Prince of Asturias Foundation. It took place in a formal ceremony held in this city, under the presidency of my parents, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía. They were times of uncertainty and concern, but above all of special enthusiasm and hope; they were times when we dreamed of concord and freedom. The aim of the prime movers of this initiative was to take up these feelings, inspired by the broad and generous course laid out by the recently approved Constitution. The Prince of Asturias Awards thus came into being with the aim of creating bonds between the heir to the Crown and the Principality and of establishing a commitment to culture and humanism. They came into being to thank and pay tribute to those who make sacrifices to create a better world. They came into being, in short, to distinguish those who wish to make life an act of continuous creation. One year later —one that was, moreover, to be especially impressed on my memory—, while still a child, I presented the first Awards and gave my first speech in public in this very theatre. And thus, supported by the power of dreams and eager hope, convinced that there is nothing that courageous hearts cannot fully achieve, we have pressed on year after year. Here, I listened —we listened— to masterful lessons, lucid reflections that encourage the spirit of knowing how to comprehend; poets who have sung to freedom, to life. We have borne witness to brave, sincere words of commitment. Each year, I have been deeply touched as I —as we all— have heard teachings and ideas that have shaped and enriched my life; and surely that of many others. Since then we have followed a long and fruitful course. Thirty-four years have passed, during which the hours of serenity have been few. Nevertheless, we have tried not to fall into the temptation of taking the easy path, of giving way to banality, impatience or dismay. We have made no concession to routine or complacency. For all these reasons, you will all understand how moved I am to return here today as King, to present these Awards and to preside over this ceremony. You will all understand how much gratitude I feel deep in my heart, how many unforgettable memories and sentiments reside deep inside me. You will all understand the care and dedication The Queen and I put into raising our daughters, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Princess Sofía, so that a commitment such as ours to this noble cause and all that it entails might grow within them, as well. And so, on this most special occasion, I wish to thank the many, many people who have helped us, those who have worked with diligence and conviction, the Trustees and Patrons, the Juries, the media and, of course, the people of Asturias, who welcome us so affectionately each time we visit Asturias. We also thank Queen Sofía, whose support for us has never faltered during all these years. And above all, I wish to thank our Laureates, who accompany us here today in this ceremony ennobling it with their presence. They bring to mind, yet another year, its deep, true meaning; and I will now address my words to them. The American architect Frank Gehry has been granted the 2014 Award for the Arts. The artistic vision, creative force and beauty with which he executes his projects have always stood out in his work. In Spain, the building of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao constituted a unique event; not only for its spectacular beauty, but also for the transformational effect it had on the city. We associate Gehry’s name and work with light, with the lustre of new materials; we associate them “Supported by the power of dreams and eager hope, convinced that there is nothing that courageous hearts cannot fully achieve, we have pressed on year after year.” Watch video