The Singapore prize is an acclaimed homegrown literary award that honours published works. Hosted by the Singapore Book Council (SBC), it gives writers an opportunity to compete for one of Singapore’s biggest cash prizes for their books. This year, SBC has introduced an additional category for translated works in order to broaden the competition further.
The 2024 Singapore Prize will open its competition to works published from January 2017 to May 30 of this year, legally deposited with the National Library Board, available both locally and globally for retail sale or download, and legally deposited with them as well. The winning entry will receive S$50,000 cash prize while shortlisted entries receive S$25,000 each.
Not only will winners receive cash awards, they’ll have the chance to work with government agencies and businesses in scaling up their solutions, enabling them to reach more people while having greater impact solving some of today’s most pressing challenges. They will also take part in an intensive week-long programme in Singapore which features workshops, panel discussions and performances by globally-acclaimed artistes.
This year marks the inaugural time this prize has been hosted in Asia; Singapore serves as a global center of innovation and entrepreneurship, featuring fast-growing start-ups working toward climate change mitigation goals and other sustainable goals. Winners will be honored during an awards ceremony featuring internationally acclaimed artists on November 8.
There will also be subsidiary awards given out this year that recognize various forms of publications and writings, with one winner from each subsidiary award category being chosen to become the Book of the Year title holder.
On Jan 11th 2019, Professor John Miksic’s book Singapore And The Silk Road Of The Sea (1300-1800), was awarded with the inaugural Singapore History Prize – disproving popular beliefs that Singapore history began with Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival. This work provides archaeological evidence which disproves this narrative.
Apart from the Singapore Prize, Singapore also hosts several homegrown writing competitions and awards such as the biennial Epigram Books Fiction Prize (EBFP) and contest organized by the Singapore Book Council to promote local authors. This year’s EBFP reopened to translators and debut authors in addition to writers from Singapore’s four official languages; its organizers hope that expanding participation by Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds. EBFP is sponsored by publisher Epigram Books.