Australia-Asian Literary Award

I am not a great fan of book prizes. But then, I am not a great fan of prizes of any sort. (Huzir say that no one is, until they win one themselves.) However, when I received the following notice it caught my eye for some reason. It was not the prize money -- AUD$110,000 is nothing to scoff at. It seemed a bit more straight forward, unlike the circus act the Man Booker Asia turned out to be. (This could also become one, if they are not careful.)

Asia (for the Award) includes these countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong (China), Macau (China), Tibet (China), India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, New Zealand, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste (East Timor) and Vietnam. (West Asia still not included. Why?)
You can read the rules and get the entry forms here.
The closing date is 31^st May 2008. (The media statement is reproduced below.)

PREMIER;
MINISTERFOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS
JOINTMEDIA STATEMENT

16/4/08

Australia and Asia's richest literary award launched.

The richest literary award in Australia and Asia has been launched by Premier Alan Carpenter.

Mr Carpenter said the inaugural Western Australian Premier's Australia-Asia Literary Award, worth $110,000, had the power to excite and expand the State's cultural horizons.

"This is a very exciting award that will re-ignite the importance and profile of literature in WA," Mr Carpenter said.

"A prize of this value will draw the best to WA and help fulfil our vision of providing new opportunities for Western Australians."

Culture and Arts Minister Sheila McHale said the award was part of the Carpenter Government's exciting $73million 'Ignite!' package, the biggest single State Government arts funding injection designed to transform literature, dance, theatre, music and visual arts.

"As part of our dynamic 'Ignite!' initiative, the literary award recognises the importance literature plays in our lives," Ms McHale said.

"WA is no longer a small player in the Australia-Asia region and the award will further expand cultural boundaries."

The Minister said the award is open to any book-length work of literary fiction published in print or electronically - something recognising the increasing predominance of electronic media, such as online and mobile phone formats.

The judging panel will consist of three renowned authors and literary experts drawn from some of the nominating countries. They include Pakistani born and multi-award winning author, Kamila Shamsie, author of 'Kartography' and 'Broken Verses' and Sri Lankan born, Hong Kong based columnist and founder of the 'Asia Literary Review', Nury Vittachi.

"This award is a fabulous vote of confidence which I know will kick-start a writing revolution," Mr Vittachi said.

"By embracing the area in which we live, and opening up this award outside Australia, we recognize the rich cultural heritage of Asia and the links our countries can create, on more than an economic basis."

The $110,000 prize makes the award the richest in the nation. Where the winning entry has been translated into English, the author will receive $88,000 and the translator $22,000.

The award is open to works written by an author resident in Australia or Asia, or which are primarily set in Australia or an Asian country. Works must have been either written in, or translated into English and published in the preceding year.

Entries for the award are now open and will close on May 31, 2008. Forms can be downloaded from the Department of Culture and the Arts website http://www.dca.wa.gov.au

Media contacts: Premier's office: Guy Houston 9222 9475 or 0411 742 692

Culture and the Arts Minister's office: Andrew Smith 9213 6900 or 0408 176 839

You can subscribe to have media releases emailed automatically from the Government's website: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au