Creu Sant Jordi 2018 goes to 31 individuals and 24 organisations

The Creu de Sant Jordi, or Saint George’s Cross, one of Catalonia’s highest public distinctions, will this year be awarded to 31 people and 24 organisations for their contributions to the country. Among those chosen to receive the award is cartoonist Josep Antoni Fernández Fernández, or Fer, who provides this newspaper’s cartoon.

This year, the award also goes to the Associació Catalana pels Drets Civils, set up for the relatives of jailed and exiled Catalan leaders, as well as musician Roger Español, who lost an eye during the independence referendum on October 1. It is the first year that the recipients were announced three months after Saint George’s Day, due to the delay in forming a Catalan government and due to direct rule from Madrid.

Other people to receive the distinction included nun and social activist Sor Lucía Caram, historian Josep Cruanyes, diver Eduard Admetlla, historian Victòria Almuni, gourmet Francesc Xicu Anoro Zuferri, athlete Tomàs Barris and writer Margarida Aritzeta.

Among the organisations awarded the Sant Jordi prize are NGO Proactiva Open Arms, the ADF forest fire prevention service, Catalonia’s Alzheimer Foundation, cooperative Abacus, the association of Catalan Language Publishers and the Union of Sports Federations.