Friday, April 16, 2010

Calling nominations for Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement 2010

New Zealanders are being asked to nominate outstanding New Zealand writers in each of the three genres of poetry, fiction and non-fiction for the Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement 2010.
Worth $60,000 each, the annual awards were established in 2003 to recognise writers who have made an enduring contribution to New Zealand literature.  Creative New Zealand adminsters the awards which will be presented later this year.

Alastair Carruthers, Chair of Creative New Zealand, said the Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement are a highlight of the literary calendar and an opportunity for New Zealanders to celebrate literary success.
 “As seen in the recipients of these awards to date, the calibre of New Zealand’s literary work is such that this country’s voice is regularly heard alongside international contemporaries.  No better example than two award recipients, Lloyd Jones and CK Stead, who were recently invited to the prestigious PEN Literary Festival in New York.”
Nominated writers must be living New Zealand citizens or resident in New Zealand and  should have written a body of work that has received national acclaim and/or international recognition.  Previous recipients are not eligible for consideration in other genres.
The nominations are assessed by an expert literary panel and recommendations forwarded to the Council of Creative New Zealand for approval. The closing date for nominations is Friday 28 May 2010.

All eligible nominations will be assessed by an expert literary panel and recommendations will go to the Council of Creative New Zealand for approval.

The Prime Minister’s Awards for Literary Achievement were established in 2003.
The complete list of recipients to date is:
•Fiction: Janet Frame (2003), Maurice Gee (2004), Margaret Mahy (2005), Patricia Grace (2006), Fiona Farrell (2007), Lloyd Jones (2008), CK Stead (2009).
•Poetry: Hone Tuwhare (2003), Kevin Ireland (2004), Alistair Te Ariki Campbell (2005), Vincent O’Sullivan (2006), Bill Manhire (2007), Elizabeth Smither (2008), Brian Turner (2009).
•Non-fiction: Michael King (2003), Anne Salmond (2004), Philip Temple (2005), Judith Binney (2006), Dick Scott (2007), WH (Bill) Oliver (2008), Dr Ranganui Walker (2009).

To nominate your choice pleas find the nomination form on the Creative New Zealand website at http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/funding/special_opportunities (scroll down the page to Literature.  Alternatively please contact us with your nomination at pmawards@creativenz.govt.nz

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