This important distinction is awarded by the Ministry of Culture to persons or institutions with an outstanding career in the fields of drama, music, dance, acting, etc.
Every year until 1995 the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport awarded gold and silver Medals of Merit in Fine Arts. Since 1996, only the Gold Medals have been awarded every year. A range of artists, from musicians to dramatists and including bullfighters, gallery owners and clowns, have received this recognition to mark their outstanding work in the field of artistic or cultural creation, or to those who have encouraged the dissemination and conservation of art and culture.