Singapore Writers Festival
Encyclopedia
The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) is a biennial literary festival held in Singapore
. It aims to present some of the world's major literary talents to the people of Singapore and Asia alike, as well as promoting new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience. To date, it remains one of the few literary festivals in Asia that is multi-lingual, focusing on the four languages of Singapore (English, Malay
, Chinese and Tamil
).
SWF has featured many writers from around the world and delighted book lovers with literary celebrities such as Czech Republic writer, Arnošt Lustig
, twice-Man-Booker-nominee David Mitchell
, Chinese poet Bei Dao
, Malaysian writer Tash Aw
, and comic book writers Gail Simone
and Kurt Busiek
.
) that focuses on the merit of the literary arts. It was presented outside the Festival of Arts for the first time in 1991 as recognition and awareness for literary arts in Singapore grew. http://www.singaporewritersfestival.com/about-history.html Since then, SWF has been held every two years.
The festival has traditionally been organised by the National Arts Council
(NAC). However, since 2007, NAC has been working with The Arts House
(TAH), to co-organise the festival. SWF 2007 attracted more than 21,000 attendees.
In 2009, SWF will be in its 13th edition. http://www.singaporewritersfestival.com
and Singapore Press Holdings Foundation are also proud to present the SPH-NAC Golden Point Award 2009.
It is the only national literary writing competition in Singapore which promotes the art of creative writing in all four official languages (English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil). Many past winners are now well-established writers (e.g. Alfian Sa'at
, Cyril Wong
, Claire Tham, Anuar Othman).
In its aim to uncover new writing talent in Singapore, a new guideline was introduced in 2007 where only unpublished writers would be eligible for the competition. This is also to differentiate SPH-NAC GPA from other literary prizes which focus on published works. While the new rule sparked some debate and attracted due attention, the result was an overall increase in both the number of participants and entries for the competition.
Since 1997, the First Prize winners of SPH-NAC GPA have received an Enrichment Grant of up to S$6,000. This aim of this grant is to provide writers with sufficient funds to participate in writing seminars, workshops and literature festivals overseas.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. It aims to present some of the world's major literary talents to the people of Singapore and Asia alike, as well as promoting new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience. To date, it remains one of the few literary festivals in Asia that is multi-lingual, focusing on the four languages of Singapore (English, Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
, Chinese and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
).
SWF has featured many writers from around the world and delighted book lovers with literary celebrities such as Czech Republic writer, Arnošt Lustig
Arnošt Lustig
Arnošt Lustig was a renowned Czech Jewish author of novels, short stories, plays, and screenplays whose works have often involved the Holocaust.Lustig was born in Prague...
, twice-Man-Booker-nominee David Mitchell
David Mitchell (author)
David Stephen Mitchell is an English novelist. He has written five novels, two of which were shortlisted for the Booker Prize.- Biography :...
, Chinese poet Bei Dao
Bei Dao
Bei Dao is the pseudonym of Chinese poet Zhao Zhenkai . He was born in Beijing, his pseudonym was chosen because he came from the north and because of his preference for solitude...
, Malaysian writer Tash Aw
Tash Aw
Tash Aw, whose full name is Aw Ta-Shi is a Malaysian writer currently living in London.- Biography :...
, and comic book writers Gail Simone
Gail Simone
Gail Simone is an American writer of comic books. Best known for penning DC's Birds of Prey, her other notable works include Secret Six, Welcome to Tranquility, The All-New Atom, and Deadpool. In 2007, she took over Wonder Woman...
and Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek
Kurt Busiek is an American comic book writer notable for his work on the Marvels limited series, his own title Astro City, and his four-year run on Avengers.-Early life:...
.
History
Formerly known as the Singapore Writers’ Week, the Singapore Writers’ Festival started in 1986 as a component of the Singapore Festival of Arts (now known as Singapore Arts FestivalSingapore Arts Festival
The Singapore Arts Festival is an annual arts festival held in Singapore. Organised by the National Arts Council, it is one of the most significant events in the regional arts scene. The festival, usually held in mid-year for a stretch of one month, incorporates theatre arts, dance, music and...
) that focuses on the merit of the literary arts. It was presented outside the Festival of Arts for the first time in 1991 as recognition and awareness for literary arts in Singapore grew. http://www.singaporewritersfestival.com/about-history.html Since then, SWF has been held every two years.
The festival has traditionally been organised by the National Arts Council
National Arts Council Singapore
The National Arts Council of Singapore was established in September 1991 "to nurture the arts and make it an integral part of life in Singapore.-History :...
(NAC). However, since 2007, NAC has been working with The Arts House
Old Parliament House, Singapore
The Old Parliament House, now known as the Arts House at the Old Parliament, is a building in Singapore. It is currently a multi-disciplinary arts venue which plays host to art exhibitions and concerts. The building was formerly home to the Parliament of Singapore from 1965 to 1999, when it moved...
(TAH), to co-organise the festival. SWF 2007 attracted more than 21,000 attendees.
In 2009, SWF will be in its 13th edition. http://www.singaporewritersfestival.com
Golden-Point Award
The Golden-Point Award (GPA) started in 1993 and has been organised in conjunction with SWF. In 2009, as the Official Sponsors for SWF 2009, SPHSingapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings Limited is a media organisation in Singapore with businesses in print, Internet and new media, television and radio, outdoor media, and property. SPH has over 4,000 employees, including a team of approximately 1,000 journalists, including correspondents operating around...
and Singapore Press Holdings Foundation are also proud to present the SPH-NAC Golden Point Award 2009.
It is the only national literary writing competition in Singapore which promotes the art of creative writing in all four official languages (English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil). Many past winners are now well-established writers (e.g. Alfian Sa'at
Alfian Sa'at
Alfian bin Sa'at is a Singaporean writer, poet and playwright. He is a Muslim of Minangkabau, Javanese and Hakka descent,. He is known for his provocative works and is often referred to as his country's enfant terrible.-Early life:...
, Cyril Wong
Cyril Wong
Cyril Wong is the author of nine volumes of poetry and one collection of prose.- Biography:Born in 1977, Cyril Wong attended Saint Patrick's School, Singapore and Temasek Junior College, before pursuing a doctoral degree in English literature from the National University of Singapore...
, Claire Tham, Anuar Othman).
In its aim to uncover new writing talent in Singapore, a new guideline was introduced in 2007 where only unpublished writers would be eligible for the competition. This is also to differentiate SPH-NAC GPA from other literary prizes which focus on published works. While the new rule sparked some debate and attracted due attention, the result was an overall increase in both the number of participants and entries for the competition.
Since 1997, the First Prize winners of SPH-NAC GPA have received an Enrichment Grant of up to S$6,000. This aim of this grant is to provide writers with sufficient funds to participate in writing seminars, workshops and literature festivals overseas.