Flamenco great Francisco José Suárez “El Torombo” wins the Premio Artista Comprometido 2022, an award bestowed by the Daniel y Nina Carasso Foundation for his great commitment to social change. The Committed Artist Award seeks to highlight the involvement of artists as agents towards more inclusive societies. “The artist often needs to make sense of what surrounds us, cultivates empathy, promotes democracy and appeals to social and environmental responsibility,” says Pepa Octavio de Toledo, head of the Arte Ciudadano line in Spain. “The role of the artist can be decisive in a world with great challenges and be the one who, with their imagination, helps us to implement more sustainable futures.” In addition to the great honor, each award recipient receives an endowment of 30,000 euros in recognition of their work.
El Torombo, is considered a flamenco great and pillar of the Gitano (Roma) community in Spain. His mastery of rhythm is legendary, and he is known throughout the world as a great maestro (teacher) and philosopher— always relating flamenco to important life lessons. For decades, the renowned dancer has brought the power of flamenco to prisons throughout Spain and has dedicated himself to teaching youth from under-resourced neighborhoods in his hometown of Sevilla. Through his latest project Fuera de Serie, Torombo works with young people in disadvantaged situations to show them that they can overcome their own context and that art is an important engine of change.