In a country where the artistic recognition is poor and the support for cultural activities regarding the visual arts is thin, it is refreshing to know that there’s a number of people that, by passion and benevolence, devote part of their life filling the gaps in this sector in an absolutely disinterested fashion.

Maria da Graça Carmona e Costa is one of those examples with a career as long as admirable. Founder of the Giefarte gallery in the long-gone 80’s and the Carmona e Costa Foundation – with her late husband Vítor Carmona e Costa –, and after the beginning of her path in the mythic Quadrum Gallery, Maria da Graça Carmona e Costa proceeds her commitment of patronage and philanthropy with the attribution of scholarships in contemporary arts. It is important to stress the acquisitive effort of art works for the collection of the foundation, focused lately in drawings as an expression “transversal to all artistic disciplines”, as well as the support in the production of several and important exhibitions.

In this sense, Umbigo magazine salutes the rightful and well-deserved attribution of the Medal of Cultural Merit from the Portuguese Government, with a ceremony scheduled for today, 12 September, 5 pm, at Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.