In recent months, the Department of Culture has been in talks with the daughter, who is the universal heir of the renowned cartoonist and graphic humorist José Luis Cabañas, to prepare for the inventory, description, and valuation of his work from the seventies to 2017. The goal is to have the work of the remembered artist from Tomelloso permanently displayed at the Casa de las Artes y las Letras. Additionally, the work will be digitized to enhance its preservation and accessibility to researchers and scholars interested in his legacy.
This agreement will allow such an important and nationally recognized body of work to be enjoyed by residents and tourists, as well as serve as a subject for research and educational activities. The themes covered in Cabañas’ work that will be showcased in Tomelloso are highly relevant, including topics such as depopulation, the role of screens, relationships with the United States, the European Union, and war, among many others.
A portion of the work, more closely tied to Tomelloso, will be donated, while the pieces with a more global appeal will be digitized and analyzed to facilitate various activities related to José Luis Cabañas’ legacy in the coming years.
Dynamic Project Linked to Art Education
The fact that such an important figure in the artistic and cultural history of Tomelloso will have a permanent space in the city will not only allow for exhibitions but also activities related to creative skills with elementary, primary, and secondary schools. There are also plans to collaborate with universities and other academic institutions. The didactic nature of many of José Luis Cabañas’ drawings will enable the development of teaching units, allowing schools from across the region and the country to engage in the educational initiatives at the new cultural center.
New «José Luis Cabañas» Award at the Festival of Arts and Letters
This significant announcement coincides with the unveiling of the Humorous Graphic Award named after José Luis Cabañas, which has been recently established with two prizes: a first prize of 2,000 euros and a second prize of 1,000 euros. This award is set to become one of the most prestigious in the country. It will be part of the Artistic Contests organized during the celebration of the «Ciudad de Tomelloso» Festival of Letters, which will mark its 74th edition in 2025.
The upcoming «Casa de las Letras y las Artes» will soon be inaugurated in the city. This project is part of the Sustainable Tourism Destination Plan funded by European funds from the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan (PRTR) – Next Generation EU, through the Sustainable Tourism Destination Plans (PSTD) financed by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism and the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha.
FUENTE