The Singapore Prize, a biennial award for literature, recognises works of fiction and poetry written in any of the four official languages of Singapore. It is held in conjunction with the National Arts Council and the National Library Board. There are 12 categories in which winners will be awarded, with each author receiving a commissioned trophy and a cash prize of 3,000 Singapore dollars.
The prize is supported by the National Book Development Council of Singapore and the National Arts Council. Aside from the main prize of 3,000 Singapore dollars, the winner will receive an award certificate and a gold medallion.
Two winners will receive SGD4,000. One of them is Giovanni Rustanto, who won the cash prize and the most promising project. He is also shortlisted in the Fiction category. Another winner is Gabriela Serrano, who will receive the fellowship prize.
In addition to the cash prizes, each winning writer will receive a 12-month gift code to StoryTel. This year’s theme is resonance, and organizers say it reflects how people interact with each other. Organizers also said the prize will be given to “a writer who has shown exceptional creativity and the ability to provoke emotion through their writing.”
Earlier this month, the Prize Secretariat announced a list of shortlisted authors for the 2022 award. Of the 43 writers who submitted for the prize, more than half were first-time candidates. Some of the other shortlisted writers include rma cureeeess, a Tamil writer, and Gladys Ng, a Malay writer.
The shortlist is divided into twelve categories, with the top awards of $10,000 each. The shortlist includes a number of literary masterpieces from the past few years. Many of the shortlisted authors are local writers. However, foreign authors are also welcome to submit their work.
The Prize Secretariat is located within the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, which is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing the Prize. The Singapore Prize is a platform to promote thought leadership amongst cities.
The Prize Secretariat also supports the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, which is awarded to an urban leader who has made a significant contribution to addressing the challenges facing contemporary city life. As part of the prize, the Secretariat will hold a cocktail party for its award winners and invited guests.
Similarly, the Singapore Academic Award is awarded to the best first-year undergraduate student at the National University of Singapore. Besides the cash reward of $20,000, the recipient will also receive mentoring from College alumni.
Last but not least, the Southeast Asian Film Lab received mentorship from industry-facing filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara and Maggie Lee. Their film “Vania on Lima Street” was the recipient of the Best Southeast Asian Short Film award. Also a special mention was given to the feature “Dikit” by Suratman Markasan.
The Major Games Award Programme was established by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) to reward medal-winning athletes. Under the programme, Team Singapore will receive a total of S$365,000 for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.