Grupo Salinas Presents Awards to Winners of the Fifth Hugo Salinas Price Silver Prize 2010 in Honor of Mexico's Bicentennial

Grupo Salinas Presents Awards to Winners of the Fifth Hugo Salinas Price Silver Prize 2010 in Honor of Mexico's Bicentennial

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Salinas, a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies deeply committed to the modernization of the countries in which they operate -- founded by Ricardo Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com) -- and the Fomento Cultural Grupo Salinas culture promotion arm presented the winners of the Fifth National Hugo Salinas Price Silver Prize 2010 and the inauguration of the resulting exposition in Mexico City's Museo de Arte Popular.

This prize, the result of an initiative launched by Grupo Salinas Chairman, has the goal of preserving artistic creation in silver, and includes the exhibition and sale of pieces on display until October 10 in the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City.

Fomento Cultural presented the winners in collaboration with the Social Development Ministry (SEDESOL), the National Fund for Artisan Development (FONART), the Museo de Arte Popular and Grupo Elektra.

The National Silver Prize was awarded to J. Abdon Punzo Angel. This award bears the name of Hugo Salinas Price as homage to his tireless work to introduce silver as currency in Mexico. Its objectives are reinforced by the Mexican Pro-Silver Civic Association and the National Pro-Silver Award, with the support of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, among other institutions and organizations.

The contest, which this year was open to artisans and designers, as well as professional and amateur silversmiths, offered awards in the categories of: jewelry, silverworking and sculpture.

Competing for the prize were 160 artisans from throughout Mexico with 216 pieces focused on the Bicentennial and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution, in addition to other themes.

In this fifth edition of competition, with total prize money of 800,000 pesos, two new awards were granted, the "National Living Legends" award, which was won by Felix Bautista Martinez and the "Young Talent" award, received by Alan Punzo Chavez:

The National Mexican Independence Award, for the piece that most originally combines artisan techniques with a theme related to the Independence of Mexico, was received by Jose Juan Marmolejo Blancas.

The National Mexican Revolution Award, for the piece that most originally combines artisan techniques with a theme related to the Mexican Revolution, was won by Fausto Salas Ceron.

The pieces were judged on the basis of production techniques, finishing, materials, designs, themes, concepts and historical significance.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, building the Mexican middle class, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.tvazteca.com.mx; www.irtvazteca.com), Azteca America (www.aztecaamerica.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx) and Grupo Iusacell (www.iusacell.com). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings.

About Fomento Cultural Grupo Salinas

Fomento Cultural Grupo Salinas arises from Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego's commitment to support and promote culture as a fundamental value of Mexico. Since 2001, the fund has promoted the preservation of Mexico's cultural heritage through projects that promote artistic creation, traditions and customs. It establishes alliances both inside and outside of Mexico so that Mexican art and history transcends borders to create bonds with new cultures.

For more information, visit: www.fomentoculturalgruposalinas.com.mx

International Press Contact: Daniel McCosh; (5255) 1720-0059; dmccosh@gruposalinas.com.mx

Source: Fomento Cultural Grupo Salinas; Grupo Salinas

CONTACT: Daniel McCosh; +011-5255-1720-0059;
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com.mx

Web Site: http://www.ricardosalinas.com/
http://www.gruposalinas.com/
http://www.fomentoculturalgruposalinas.com.mx/

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