Chilean artisans receive national Sello de Excelencia awards

Three artisans from the La Araucanía region were recognized at the Sello de Excelencia a la Artesanía 2026 ceremony held at Palacio Pereira in Santiago. Nabor Agurto Ocares, from Angol, received the Seal of Excellence for his stone carving work titled “Recipiente”.

Two other creators from the region received honorable mentions: Daniel Soffia Vega of Pucón for “Garzas del humedal” and luthier Roberto Allende Bustamante of Angol for “Propuesta de rabel chileno”. The awards, granted by the National Craftsmanship Committee, recognize technical excellence, cultural identity, and innovation in Chilean craftsmanship.

In a separate recognition, Jaime Ormazábal Allende, a leatherworker from Lolol, received an honorable mention for his work “Alforjas”, highlighting the preservation of rural traditions.