The Singapore Prize 2024 is open to submissions from authors of any nationality and genre, as long as their work focuses on the unique Singapore story. Works can be written in any of the four official Singapore languages, or translated into one of them. They must have been published in the year of nomination and can be either fiction or non-fiction. Applicants must also be Singapore citizens or permanent residents, or have strong Singaporean ties. The winning works will be those that have a clear focus on Singapore’s history and are of interest to both local readers and the wider international community.
The prestigious award comes with a cash prize of S$25,000, as well as a lifetime membership to the Singapore Writers’ Association and the Asian Writing Centre. The winner will also be invited to give a talk at the awards ceremony and participate in a workshop on how to write a successful book.
Prof Miksic’s book earned the gong because it laid foundations for a “fundamental reinterpretation” of Singapore’s history, he said. The prize panel cited the book as “an elegantly crafted and well-researched narrative of Singapore’s kampong gelam,” and commended its use of primary sources such as oral histories and letters.
In the book, he tells how the migrants’ contributions to society in the form of farming, trade and manufacturing were essential to the survival of the city state, but were often overlooked because of its modern-day reputation for financial success. He hopes the book will encourage more people to understand the past and appreciate its contribution to today’s Singapore.
Last month, the winners of this year’s Singapore International Violin Competition were announced, with Dmytro Udovychenko receiving USD 50,000, Anna Agafia Egholm taking USD 25,000 and Angela Sin Ying Chan getting USD 15,000. The prize money totalled to more than USD $110,000, along with multiple concert engagements.
Britain’s Prince William rolled out the green carpet at the third annual Earthshot Prize awards in Singapore, presenting five winners whose innovations ranging from solar-powered dryers to combating food waste and making electric car batteries more environmentally friendly were hailed as hopeful signs of solving climate change. He was joined by celebrities such as Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and actors Donnie Yen and Lana Condor, as well as Australian wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin.
Several local arcade-goers told CNA that they do not fear restrictions on prizes offered at such entertainment venues, which will be imposed from March 1. Under the new rules, operators must only offer items of less than S$100, a move to reduce gambling inducement. At the Cow Play Cow Moo arcade outlet in Downtown East, a 35-year-old who only wanted to be identified as Ms Wong, said that she usually plays for a G-shock watch or stack of trading cards. She said she visits the venue about once a week and spends about half an hour playing games.