Singapore Prize for Historical Fiction

The prize is worth US$50,000 Singapore dollars and is open to works published in, or translated into English from any country. The prize is administered by the Department of History of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, National University of Singapore (NUS). The competition is open to authors and creators of any nationality, with a focus on publishing book-length works that make a significant contribution to our understanding of Singapore’s past. It is also open to non-book formats that deal with Singapore’s history, provided that it is published in the 2024 calendar year and contains clear historical content.

The winner of the prestigious award will receive an engraved trophy, and SGD10,000 in cash. The prize will be announced at a ceremony in April 2020 and will be presented by the President of the Republic of Singapore, Halimah Yacob.

Among the finalists in this year’s competition were a post-earthquake reconstruction project in a village in China’s Yunnan province, an extension to the National Museum of Szczecin, and the Interlace, a stacked apartment complex by OMA and German architect Ole Scheeren. The winning project was Kampung Admiralty, a community and public architecture design by Singaporean firm WOHA, which combines heritage elements with modern elements to create a contemporary and unified building. The judges praised the design’s use of materiality, its connection with the water, and its integration into the landscape.

British Prince William touched down in Singapore on Tuesday, the first time he has visited the country since 2012. The 41-year-old will be there to attend the third annual Earthshot Prize ceremony, a 1 million-pound ($1.23 million) prize for green innovators who are working on projects like a cleaner lithium-ion battery and ocean conservation. The heir to the British throne vowed that “the light of optimism” is burning bright in this year’s winners, who were selected from more than 300 nominees around the world.

The prize was inspired by former President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 moonshot goal, which he challenged Americans to achieve by the end of that decade. It is aimed at propelling Singapore into becoming an even more innovative and competitive global hub. In addition to the monetary prize, shortlisted applicants will be offered access to a four-week programme curated by Vogue Singapore and featuring laureate speakers who will provide mentorship support and industry insights. This includes a boot camp that will equip them with skills in areas such as digital innovation, accessible design and circular fashion. Those interested in applying can do so by January 28. For more information, visit the official website.