Joan Manuel Serrat and Núria Espert to receive Gold Medal of Catalan government

The Catalan government will award singer-songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat and actress and performing arts professional Núria Espert with Gold Medals this year. 

The executive awards the distinctions to recognize careers of excellence and an extraordinary contribution to the country.

The medals will be awarded on December 22 at an institutional event that will take place at the Catalan government headquarters building, in an event headed by President Salvador Illa.

The medals highlight two "exceptional artistic and human trajectories that have contributed decisively to the projection of Catalan culture and democratic and humanist values."

Born in Barcelona in 1943, Serrat was one of the central names of the Nova Cançó artistic movement, and has built a body of work that has united music, poetry and values.

His commitment to creative freedom and the Catalan language led him to face the censorship of the Franco dictatorship, with episodes such as his refusal to participate in Eurovision in 1968, or his exile in 1975.

Speaking with the Catalan News Agency, Serrat the news of the Gold Medal, and said he considered the distinction the "most important" in Catalonia.

He added that he hoped the country would find him "worthy" of this recognition.

In the presentation of the album 'Jofre Bardagí interprets Serrat' this Tuesday, the musician left the door open to taking the stage next May 13 at the Bardagí concert.

Núria Espert

Núria Espert's Gold Medal recognizes her "exceptional artistic career of more than seven decades that has made her one of the great figures of contemporary performing arts."

Born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat in 1935, Espert began her theatrical career at a very young age and soon established herself as "a leading actress" in the country, with an unprecedented national and international projection.

Founder of her own theatre company, she has stood out for her versatility and artistic demands, masterfully interpreting both the classical repertoire and contemporary authors.

Espert was the first woman to interpret 'Hamlet' in Spain and contributed decisively to the international diffusion of authors such as Federico García Lorca or Jean Genet.

During the Franco dictatorship she suffered censorship, which "reinforced her commitment to freedom, equality and human dignity, turning theatre into a space of cultural resistance."