The Singapore prize is a biennial award given in recognition of outstanding published works in the fields of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry in any of the four official languages – Chinese, English, Malay, or Tamil. Previous winners include novels such as The White Tiger and The Gift of Rain, and poems such as Those Who Wait and Ning Cai
The award was mooted by NUS Asia Research Institute distinguished fellow Kishore Mahbubani, who said in a Straits Times column that it “stemmed from the belief that nations are ‘imagined communities’ and a shared imagination, particularly of history, is a critical glue holding societies together.” The prize is presented by the Singapore Press Holdings.
A panel of judges will decide the winner in October, based on criteria such as literary quality and creativity, the significance of the work to Singaporean society, and how the book contributes to the understanding of the nation’s culture and identity. The prize is supported by the National Arts Council and the National Book Development Council of Singapore, and carries a cash prize of S$10,000 for each of the three categories.
Applicants are encouraged to explore the wider themes and perspectives of Singaporean history, which can be interpreted in diverse ways. The prize is open to book-length works in English and other languages that address a significant aspect of Singapore’s history. The judging panel is composed of the Nominating Committee, which reviewed 31 books submitted by publishers, as well as academics and professionals from the civil service and other fields. It is chaired by Associate Professor Joey Long, Head of the NUS Department of History, and includes Foo Hai Fellow in Buddhist Studies Prof Jack Meng-Tat Chia, curator Suhaili Osman, educator Beatrice Chong, and playwright Jean Tay.
In addition to the main prizes, there is also a consumer choice award. Readers can vote for their favourite works online and stand a chance to win book-purchase vouchers worth S$100. This year, the six shortlisted entries include a novel by Ali bin Salim, an essay collection by Daryl Qilin Yam, a memoir by Pan Zheng Lei, and a children’s picture book by rmaa cureess.
In addition to the main prizes, there is a Singapore Prize for Caring, which is a non-monetary honour that recognizes pre-tertiary students who have demonstrated extraordinary care in their community. The student must have gone beyond the call of duty and influenced others to do so, and has been active over a sustained period of time. One such recipient, Muhammad Dinie from ITE College Central, shared about his team’s project to thank town council cleaners during the Covid-19 pandemic, where they went around Ang Mo Kio estates to hand out packed food and groceries. A total of 17 winners have been announced for the Singapore Prize. The winners will be honoured at a ceremony in November.