The competition celebrates the art of drawing, which Fernando regarded as fundamental to his art. As he put it: “If you can draw well, you can do it all”. The competition continues to celebrate young Bolivian artists and encourage them to excel in drawing. It is now a regular fixture in the cultural life of La Paz and beyond, as participants send in their entries from the regions as well as the capital.

Entries are judged by a jury of established Bolivian artists and an art historian who select works for the exhibition and the catalogue and award the prizes. The Fund is extremely grateful to Claudia Hurtado and Isabel Crespo, owners of the Alternativa Gallery, who organised the competition and exhibition, as they have over the last 8 years. Fernando’s nephew, Hugo Montes, represented the family.

The first prize of US$1,500, chosen by majority vote, was awarded to Vidal Cussi for his work ‘Ocaso’. The second prize of US$750, chosen by majority, was awarded to Karina Lara Lomar for her work ‘Black Mirror’. Five artists were commended for their submissions and received diplomas: Víctor Marcelo Calle, Tatiana López Churata, William Luna T, Sergio Mamani Condori and Alvaro Rodrigo Crespo.

The Solydes Foundation has once again generously sponsored the catalogue. We are grateful to them for their continual support since the competition was established.

We are delighted to inform you that Richard Strike, my daughter Sarita’s husband, cycled some 1,000 miles (1,500 kilometres) from Land’s End, in the southwest of England, to John O’Groats, the northernmost point of Scotland, to raise funds for the Fernando Montes Art Fund. Thanks to the donations of many friends he raised US$5,445.08. We are immensely grateful to him and to all the friends and family who supported him.

It is always a great pleasure to inform you of the continued successes of artists who have participated in past competitions. This year José Carlos Auza Palenque, who won First Prize in 2017, has won the most prestigious Bolivian competition, the “Pedro Domingo Murillo”. This competition is open to Bolivian artists of all ages working in every medium.  More than 300 artists took part. His winning entry can be seen here.

This year was also memorable because we established a museum in La Paz, devoted to the permanent display of Fernando’s art. The Museo Fernando Montes was inaugurated on 11 January 2019. The occasion was a national media event. The Museum is owned and run by the Cultural Foundation of the Central Bank of Bolivia, the body that is responsible for all the major museums and cultural institutions in Bolivia. We as a family donated 30 works, including paintings, pastels and drawings, together with sketches and personal effects. The museum is located in Sopocachi, the district where Fernando was born and raised and is becoming a bohemian quarter of La Paz. The Museum is situated at 476 calle Fernando Guachalla. It is open on Mondays to Fridays from 11am to 7pm and on Saturdays from 11am to 5pm.

Once again heartfelt thanks to all of you who have made this possible with your contributions and to those who continue to support the Fund.