The Singapore Prize for Arts and Multimedia

The Singapore Prize is a biennial award in Singapore that recognises outstanding published works by authors in any of the country’s four official languages: Chinese, English, Malay, and Tamil. Winners are selected from a pool of 12 top prizes in each language in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. The winner of the highest prize is awarded the Christopher Bathurst Prize, which is a two-week internship with prestigious law firm Fountain Court Chambers in London.

The winner of the second highest prize will receive the S. Rajagopalan Memorial Lecture and a $10,000 cash prize. The winner of the third most prize will receive a $20,000 cash prize, and the winner of the fourth most prize will receive a $15,000 cash prize. The remaining nine winners will each receive an award of $5,000 cash prize.

Singapore’s success story has captured the attention of people around the world, and younger generations are keen to learn more about the unique nation. This makes the fostering of a deep understanding of Singapore’s history even more important. This was one of the main reasons for the creation of the Singapore prize.

Since 2014, the NUS Singapore History Prize has been awarded to books that foster a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s past. This year, the NUS Singapore History Prize was doubled and a new category was added to recognise non-print media that engages deeply with Singapore history. The new ‘Arts and Multimedia’ category will alternate with the ‘Books’ category every three years.

The 2027 NUS Singapore History Prize for Arts and Multimedia is open to submissions from across the world that address any aspect of Singapore history through any medium, including film, visual art, performances, or other non-print media. Submissions must be written in English or in a work that is translated into English, and must have been published between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024.

NUS professor Kishore Mahbubani, who helped found the prize, says he hopes the addition of the arts and multimedia category will encourage more submissions that use creative forms to communicate the complex and enduring narrative of Singapore’s history. “The prize will continue to be a catalyst for Singaporeans and people from around the world to think about how Singapore’s rich and unique heritage can help shape our future, as well as to develop a strong sense of national identity,” he says.

At a glitzy ceremony in Singapore, Prince William and the other award presenters walked a green carpet to underscore the sustainability theme of the event, which also honored 10 entrepreneurs with the Earthshot prize. They wore recycled clothing, including a 10-year-old blazer and a pair of sandals made from plastic bottles. The awards were hosted by celebrities and politicians, with performers including One Republic and Bastille. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who was on the Earthshot board and has spoken out against climate change, was in attendance. The ceremony was broadcast worldwide. The prize money is intended to help amplify the winners’ environmental solutions.