Queen Sofía Spanish Institute facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Queen Sofia Spanish Institute

Founded	June 9, 1954
Type	Cultural institution
Location	Offices at 575 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022
Product	Spanish cultural
Endowment	Yes
Employees	3
Website	queensofiaspanishinstitute.org

The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute is a special group in New York City. It was started to share the amazing culture of Spanish speaking countries and help them build good relationships with the United States. You can find its offices in a famous building called the Oliver D. Filley House in Manhattan.

History of the Institute

The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute officially began on May 18, 1954. It was set up as a non-profit organization, meaning it doesn't aim to make money. Its main goal is to promote culture, not politics.

In 1965, a kind person named Margaret Rockefeller Strong helped save a historic building at 684 Park Avenue from being torn down. With her help and money from the McMicking Foundation, this building became the institute's main home.

The institute changed its name in 2003. It was renamed to honor Queen Sofía of Spain, who became its special supporter.

The building was sold in 2014. Since then, the institute has worked with other groups to host talks, educational programs, and other fun cultural events.

In 2018, the Institute teamed up with the Hispanic Society. Together, they created a "Maps and Globes" learning program for public schools in New York City. The Institute also works with other important partners. These include the Instituto Cervantes, Hunter College, Juilliard, the Spanish Consulate, and the Americas Society.

What the Institute Does

The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute is a non-profit group that started in 1954. Its main goal is to help people in America learn about the art, culture, language, and history of the Spanish-speaking world. It also helps Spanish-speaking people around the world understand the culture of the United States. This helps build strong friendships and understanding between different countries.

Cultural Events and Programs

The Institute hosts many different artistic events. They help put on art shows and talks about important art styles and artists. They also support performance arts like concerts and shows. These events help people understand how art is important today.

The institute also holds special food events. These events teach Americans about the delicious foods from Spanish-speaking countries. They are a great way to bring people together.

The Institute gives out a special award for translation every two years. This award celebrates translators who do a great job of changing a Spanish book into English. This helps more people read and learn from these books. The institute also offers talks about history and education. These talks help Americans learn more about the Spanish-speaking world.

Awards and Recognition

The Institute has given out special awards to honor people who help connect the United States and the Spanish-speaking world.

Gala Gold Medalists

From 1978, the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute gave out a Gold Medal every year. This award honored Americans and Hispanic people who helped improve relationships between the United States and the Spanish-speaking world. This event was a big celebration. It brought together important leaders and supporters from around the world. The Gala also helped raise money for the institute's activities.

In 2003, the institute celebrated its 50th birthday. To mark this special occasion, a 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal was given to King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain.

The Institute no longer holds the Gold Medal Gala.

Here are some of the people who received the Gold Medal:

Sophia Award for Excellence

The institute holds an annual event to give out the "Sophia Award for Excellence". This award honors a person or group that has done a lot to help people around the world appreciate Spain and the Americas. They do this by sharing their time, skills, and knowledge in science, arts, or humanities.

The current president and CEO of the institute is David Askren. Patrice Degnan Erquicia has been the executive director since September 2017.

Translation Prize

To help more people in the United States discover Spanish books, the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute created a special prize. This $10,000 award is given every three years. It honors the best English translation of a book by a Spanish author. The first award was given in 2010. It celebrated the best translation published between 2006 and 2008. The winner was Edith Grossman for her 2008 translation of Antonio Muñoz Molina's A Manuscript of Ashes.

See also

In Spanish: Queen Sofía Spanish Institute para niños

• Instituto Cervantes