On October 3, 2026, Blanca Fernández, the delegate of the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha in Ciudad Real, underscored the regional government's dedication to recovering and promoting the legacy of Gloria Merino during the awards ceremony of the International Painting Competition Memorial Gloria Merino held in Malagón.
Fernández emphasized that this competition not only creates a space for artists to connect and find opportunities but also helps keep alive the memory of a painter she described as a "Renaissance woman" for her ability to navigate various artistic disciplines and for her significant career at a time when it was particularly challenging for women to pursue artistic paths.
She highlighted Merino's pioneering spirit, noting that she developed her work from a rural area like Malagón and was able to universalize the everyday life of La Mancha. "Thanks to her, the life of the Manchego, the farmer, became universal," Fernández stated, emphasizing the human and social dimensions of Merino's work, which is linked to expressionist realism and the portrayal of the harsh living conditions faced by previous generations.
Fernández deemed it crucial that the competition contributes to ensuring that Gloria Merino "is not forgotten again" after a period during which her contributions were overlooked. She recalled that the Castilla-La Mancha government had already promoted her recognition on Rural Women's Day and later through the Day of the Region, as part of its commitment to recovering female cultural and heritage figures.
Recognition of the Gloria Merino Museum
The delegate also connected this recognition to the opening of the Gloria Merino Museum in Malagón, a long-awaited project that allowed the public to access her artistic legacy. Fernández acknowledged the importance of those working to preserve cultural heritage and recognized the role played by former mayor Luis Carlos Segura in establishing the museum.
In addition to recovering Gloria Merino's legacy, Fernández stressed the importance of public administrations creating opportunities for artists. "If we do not create these types of spaces, if we do not promote grants, subsidies, or sponsorships, it is very difficult for painters, sculptors, photographers, and other artists to find places to exhibit and earn a legitimate living," she asserted.
Support for Artistic Creation
Fernández explained that the Castilla-La Mancha government's sponsorship of the competition serves a dual purpose: to help preserve Gloria Merino's memory and to support those currently engaged in artistic activities. "We wanted to sponsor this competition because we understand it contributes to ensuring that the memory of such an important painter as Gloria Merino is never forgotten, while also supporting creation, art, and artists," she noted.
She highlighted the regional government's efforts to promote cultural and artistic activities, stating, "Every year, the Castilla-La Mancha government invests over one million euros in sponsoring artistic events" to provide opportunities, spaces, and possibilities for those who "enrich the entire citizenry with their art and culture."
Fernández defended that supporting artistic creation also means enabling artists to continue their work and "keep generating culture, growing, and making us happy," assuring that the Castilla-La Mancha government will continue collaborating with this competition, with the intention of ensuring its continuity for many years.
In this inaugural edition, the first prize, worth 6,000 euros and sponsored by the Diputación de Ciudad Real, was awarded to Melchor Balsera Maldonado for his work 'Untitled'. The second prize, worth 4,000 euros and sponsored by the Castilla-La Mancha government, went to Mónica Dixon for 'Straight, left and right', while the third prize, worth 2,000 euros and sponsored by the Malagón City Council, was awarded to Ki Hong Chung for 'Monologue'.
