The Singapore Prize is an annual book award that recognizes writings that champion mindsets and values important to Singapore, such as equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy and pragmatism. Launched this year by the National Library Board on April 18, it carries top prizes of up to $10,000 each in fiction, non-fiction and poetry categories in Chinese, English and Malay languages.
The inaugural prize, established through a generous donation by businessman Alan Chan, boasts one of the richest pots ever offered at any Singapore book award. This prize honors non-fiction and fiction books that emphasize diversity tolerance inclusiveness openness fairness societies – with the winner receiving S$30,000 cash prize and gold medal for display at UWC entrance gate while runners-up will be presented with S$20K plus silver medal for display in main building of university.
Singapore’s prestigious literature awards ceremony was back this year after two years of restrictions and social distancing. Held at Victoria Theatre, eight out of this year’s winners made history at their inaugural win: Rama Suresh was one of eight Tamil category winners who made history for themselves first time around, along with Azhagunila winner Alllkunilaa (Azhagunila), Inbha author Innnpaa (Inbha) Suratman Markasan Wang Gungwu and Yeow Kai Chai; historian Edwin Thumboo joined by authors Balli Kaur Jaswal and Xue Sui.
Professor Miksic recognized Leluhur: Singapore Kampong Gelam in the history category as an elegantly written and well researched account of an intriguing part of Singapore’s past. Furthermore, this work proves that you don’t need to be an experienced historian to write about our history as “anyone living through a part of their lives here has something important to share”.
Kampung Admiralty by architects WOHA was honored with this year’s World Architecture Festival (WAF) Singapore winner award, receiving praise from judges for its response to context and site, integration with nearby buildings and public spaces, strong sense of identity and place, etc. These projects exemplified global best practices in sustainable urban development.
Singapore is proud to receive three World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards since 2015. OMA Singapore and German architect Ole Scheeren collaborated to design The Interlace apartment block, which won in 2015. Last year’s top prize went to post-earthquake reconstruction project in China’s Yunnan province following an earthquake. WAF awards aim to promote sustainable urban development practices while encouraging exchanges among cities; additionally they provide an ideal opportunity for Singapore to demonstrate its strengths within architecture and showcase them internationally.