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 in order 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 also it 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.
This document shows the choices made in the operation of the Torcuato Di Tella Institute Prize in regard to the attempt to add an acclaimed Argentinean artist like Alicia [Pérez] Penalba as guest of honor. At that moment, the sculptor was living in Paris and had received the Grand Prize in Sculpture at the São Paulo Biennial in 1962. With this document, the exchange of letters dealing with these arrangements comes to end, due to her rejection. A factor to take into consideration in regard to Penalba’s motivations is that on March 28, 1962, the military deposed President Dr. Arturo Frondizi, replacing him with the provisional President of the Senate, Mr. José María Guido. In addition, the letter contains an annotation indicating that it is advisable to respond officially; it also mentions Argentinean sculptors Enio Iommi’s and Claudio Girola’s declining to participate in the 1962 ITDT Prize.