The prize, which was created in 2014 as part of the national SG50 programme marking Singapore’s 50th anniversary, is awarded to a publication that has made a lasting impact on our understanding of the history of Singapore. The winner for 2018 is renowned archaeologist Professor John Miksic’s book Singapore and the Silk Road of the Sea, 1300 – 1800. His book is an extensive archaeological study that provides concrete evidence that Singapore’s story began more than 700 years ago.
This year’s awards ceremony was accompanied by a series of events, including Earthshot Week, which will see global leaders, businesses and investors convene in Singapore to explore opportunities with the Earthshot Prize winners and finalists. The public will also be invited to experience local activations centred on the 2023 cohort of Earthshot solutions.
Founded in 1992, the award recognises works of literature published in the country’s four official languages, which are Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil. The prize celebrates the rich diversity of literary voices in Singapore and provides a platform for debate on issues such as the nation’s identity and values. This year’s theme is resonance, which is meant to reflect the way in which literature can evoke emotions and memories. Kamaladevi Aravindan’s novel Sembawang, for example, is set over five decades and examines the lives of ordinary people in the city. Clara Chow, on the other hand, is the first writer in the program’s history to be shortlisted for both the English fiction and Chinese poetry categories.
A total of 119,950 individuals and 1,550 teams have received the National Awards (COVID-19) in 11 categories. This includes a team of security personnel who helped to manage the airport’s operations during the pandemic, and a family who braved the quarantine to care for their ailing son.
Vienna, Austria has been awarded the 2020 Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, which is given every two years to cities that are recognised for their efforts to create liveable and sustainable urban communities. The award was presented in November this year.
The film has a cast of mostly nonprofessional actors and features a director who demonstrates “great warmth and sensitivity to the performances of his ensemble cast”, according to the jury. It was also praised for its depiction of the life of migrants, which is an important aspect of Singapore’s cultural heritage.
The jury was comprised of academic Khoo Gaik Cheng, filmmaker Lucky Kuswandi and artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen. It was presented in partnership with the National Arts Council and the Singapore Media Academy. The top prize, a cash sum of S$25,000 and production services worth up to SGD$15,000 from Shooting Gallery Asia, was shared by the director and lead actor. The runner-ups each received a cash prize of S$10,000 and online, audio post and DCP package, and an audio final mix and DCP feature from Mocha Chai Laboratories. The rest of the shortlist winners received cash prizes of S$5,000 each. The prize ceremony was held on Thursday.