The Setba Foundation champions the talent and professionalization of artists with intellectual disabilities during the Setba Prize Gala

The Setba Foundation held the XVI Setba Award Gala today at CaixaForum Barcelona, the painting competition aimed at artists with intellectual disabilities whose purpose is to give visibility to their talent and generate new opportunities for recognition and professionalization within the cultural sector.

The gala featured a very special guest, the actor Quim Llisorgas, who was in charge of kicking off the ceremony. Actor, writer, and presenter, Llisorgas addressed a few words to the participating artists and shared with the public a message that marked the beginning of the evening: «If you want to, you can».

In this sixteenth edition, 854 artists from 56 organizations from all over Catalonia participated. Out of all the works, the jury selected 30 proposals, from which the nine finalists and the three main prizes emerged. The First Setba Prize 2026 went to Josep Suárez, from the MAP Private Foundation, for the work La finestra indiscreta (Rear Window). The jury highlighted his unique and original style, the combination of techniques, and the mystery conveyed by the composition. The award is endowed with 4,000 euros for the entity and 500 euros for the artist, and includes the acquisition of the work by the Setba Foundation.

The Second Prize went to Ferran Pi, from CO Paideia, for Un somni, ser jardiner (A Dream, to be a Gardener). The jury especially valued the technique, the composition, and the balance of the work. The prize is endowed with 1,800 euros for the entity and 400 euros for the artist.

The Third Prize went to Xavier Riambau, from CO Les Corts, for El gran pont (The Great Bridge), a work that the jury highlighted for its ability to represent a chaotic world through meticulous drawing and, at the same time, clear and defined composition. The award is endowed with 1,500 euros for the entity and 300 euros for the artist.

Other awards

The Audience Award went to Anabelia Ronchini, from CO Asproseat Sant Just, for the work La verdad tiene luz (The Truth Has Light). This year, 2,238 votes were registered, 13.2% more than in the previous edition. As the winning entity of the Audience Award, CO Asproseat Sant Just will participate in the Magistrals 2027 artistic training.

The Bardinet Design Award, endowed with 500 euros, went to Pily Arjona, from the Estimia Foundation, for Amanecer (Dawn). The work will become the new label for the AMIL rosé wine, by Lacrima Baccus.

Meanwhile, Adrián Perán, from CO 1981 – Asproseat, received the Pigment Gallery Acquisition Award, endowed with 250 euros, for the work Flores (Flowers). The gallery especially noted the use of canvas textures and the transparency of the papers.

A professional commission to demonstrate talent

Another highlight of the gala was the presentation of the new LaRambla Poster, a professional commission from Amics de La Rambla linked to the Magistrals artistic training project. The selected work is by David Padín, from Centre Ocupacional Condal, and represents La Rambla de Santa Mónica using urban sketching techniques developed during the last edition of Magistrals, led by the illustrator and cartoonist Lluïsot.

David Padín's proposal was chosen from the works of ten artists and will become part of the La Rambla Posters. The ten proposals will be on display at the Mirador de Colom from September 21 to October 25.

With this initiative, the Setba Foundation wants to demonstrate that artists with intellectual disabilities can take on high-level professional assignments and achieve quality artistic results, thus advancing toward their real recognition within the cultural sector.

During the event, the Setba Foundation once again emphasized the need to transform the visibility of artists with intellectual disabilities into real professional opportunities, through exhibitions, art acquisitions, artistic commissions, and collaborations with businesses and cultural institutions.

Among these initiatives, the finalist and award-winning works from the Setba Prize will be exhibited this autumn at Pigment Gallery in Barcelona, while works from previous editions will also be included in other spaces and collections linked to the cultural sector. The gala concluded with a speech by Marta Villanueva, Councilor for Health, People with Disabilities, and the Loneliness Strategy of Barcelona City Council, who emphasized the need to generate real opportunities for recognition and professionalization for artists with intellectual disabilities within the cultural sector.