Gran Canaria, December 12, 2024.
The official presentation ceremony took place at the Nativity Scene itself and brought together representatives from the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council, the Gran Canaria Island Council, the event organizers, and private sponsors. Mariluz Laforet, president of the Artisophia Foundation, presented the Flag of Peace and Culture as a symbol of the event's commitment to promoting universal values through art.
With this award, the Sand Nativity Scene joins a network of outstanding and relevant international projects that extend beyond the regional sphere. The recognition underscores its value as an artistic expression that promotes coexistence, intercultural dialogue, and a culture of peace—fundamental principles endorsed by UNESCO.
During the ceremony, Miguel Rodríguez, artistic director of the Nativity scene, along with his son Aday Rodríguez, described the recognition as a "turning point" for a project with nearly two decades of history. He also highlighted the Nativity scene's role as a space that fosters education, inclusion, free access to culture, and understanding between peoples.
At the same event, a commemorative sculpture was also presented, the work of the Gran Canaria artist Marcos Díaz, made of solid envero wood and conceived as a representation of the balance between earth and sky.
The Las Canteras Sand Nativity Scene thus becomes the first event in the Canary Islands to officially receive and raise the Flag of Peace and Culture, consolidating its role as a cultural ambassador on the international stage.
