Whether it is a literary work, an educational title, a professional publication or a book for children, Singapore Prize recognises the best in Singapore book publishing. The annual prize was launched in 2012 and is organised by the Singapore Book Publishers Association (SBPA). It includes subsidiary awards for literary works, education titles and professional publications as well as a prestigious Book of the Year title chosen from the subsidiary award winners. The competition is open to both Singaporean and non-Singaporean authors and publishers. The winners will be announced in July 2023.
A housing complex for senior citizens has beaten flashier competition to win this year’s World Building of the Year award. It was chosen over hundreds of other projects, including Russia’s World Cup stadium and Qatar’s National Library. The award, which is considered one of the most coveted in the design industry, was presented at the World Architecture Festival in Amsterdam this week.
The winning project was a multi-family home in Singapore’s Clementi area, which incorporates social spaces and more than 100 apartments for elderly residents. Its design was inspired by the traditional Singaporean kampung house, which is usually enclosed by a veranda and surrounded by gardens. The winner was praised for its “sensitive and intelligent use of space, materials and the environment,” as well as its inclusion of community facilities.
In this year’s edition of the Singapore Prize, the focus is on the theme of resonance. The jury chose the shortlisted works which they felt “touched a chord in the hearts and minds of readers, and had the potential to influence the larger society at large”. The winners will be honoured at a gala dinner at the Fairmont Hotel on 23 April.
Competitive athletes invest a substantial amount of time and money in the pursuit of their Olympic medal dreams, but only a small percentage of them will reach the podium at a major Games. To encourage aspiring athletes, the Singapore National Olympic Council devised an incentive scheme that rewards medal-winning competitors with cash payouts.
The Harvard Prize Book (Singapore) recognises individuals who have, over a sustained period of time, devoted themselves to performing acts of kindness and altruism, and may have also influenced others to do so as well. The prize is sponsored by Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and one that has produced many leaders and luminaries over the years.
The NUS Singapore History Prize is open to books – written or translated – that address any aspect of Singapore’s history. The Prize, worth $50,000 Singapore dollars, is administered by the Department of History at NUS. A total of three prizes will be awarded in 2024. The entries are judged by a panel of scholars from NUS and abroad. The Prize is supported by philanthropy firm Temasek Trust, decarbonisation investment platform GenZero and Standard Chartered Bank.
