In 1960 and a few months after having created the Centro de Arte del Instituto Torcuato Di Tella (ITDT) [Art Center of the Torcuato Di Tella Institute]—directed by a Council made up of Lionello Venturi, Ricardo Camino, Guido Di Tella and Jorge Romero Brest— the ITDT Prize was made possible. The purpose of this center was to cooperate in the diffusion and promotion of the visual arts and to keep in contact with other centers connected with production at both a national and an international level. Within this context, the Premio ITDT [ITDT Prize] was created to provide an opportunity for young Argentinean artists to enrich their experience abroad; nevertheless, its creation did not just allow for the awarding of the grant-prize, but it also spurred the circulation of international art in the local arena, becoming an important reference point for the visual arts renaissance of the time. This prize was awarded to national or international artists, with some variation depending on the year in question, until 1967. Beginning that year, it changed its name and became Experiencias Visuales [Visual Practices], and then just Experiencias [Practices] in 1968 and 1969.
The Italian critic Lionello Venturi not only had advised al señor Torcuato Di Tella to help him to amass a collection, but he also shared the family’s anti-fascist ideas. In 1931, Venturi decided to emigrate [to Argentina] from Italy before subscribing to the fidelity act imposed to all faculty members by the Benito Mussolini regime (1922–43).
The award given to Mario Pucciarelli was not only an honor to him, but also to the informal trends developing within in the local milieu. On the other hand, his prize-scholarship, which consisted of an exhibition outside of Argentina and a year of residence in the chosen country, implied an artistic updating that could take place upon his return.