Southern Star Awards

The "Southern Star Awards" – Public recognition that our C.U.B grants to people or companies for their career or endeavors.

The recognition of the Uruguayan British Club is a sculpture made by the artist Cecilia Mattos that represents Dr. Pedro Figari reading the first issue of the Southern Star from 1807.

At the proposal of the Treasurer at that time, Mr. Santiago Pereira Testa, this figurine was chosen as an example of the best of Uruguay and its friendship with Great Britain.

Although Dr. Figari was born 50 years after the first Uruguayan newspaper, in 1927 he was awarded the Knighthood of the Order of the British Empire at Buckingham Palace by His Majesty King George V.

This great lawyer, writer, teacher, politician and diplomat was later one of the most significant painters in the country and was responsible for many great initiatives, including the abolition of capital punishment in 1907, the founding of the School of Fine Arts and the development of the Uruguayan Labor University.

"They tell their own story.
By giving them shape I discover Figari's smile"

Cecilia Mattos.