Secretary of State to launch Dylan Thomas
International prize
The
Dylan Thomas International prize, sponsored by Swansea University, will be
launched this evening (29th April) at an event hosted by the Secretary of State
for Wales the Rt. Hon. David Jones MP.
This is the seventh edition of the International Dylan
Thomas prize, which is the largest literary prize in the world for young
writers, aimed at encouraging creative talent worldwide. It celebrates and
nurtures international literary excellence across all genres.
The
prize opened for entries on St David’s Day, 1st March 2014. In
recognition of Dylan Thomas’s 39 years of literary productivity and
creativity, the prize is open to young writers of 39 and under. The closing
date for entries is 30th May 2014.
The
Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones will welcome dignitaries and guests
to Gwydyr House in Whitehall to mark the official UK launch of the prize. Three
members of the judging panel will also be in attendance including singer and
broadcaster Cerys Matthews, Alison Pearson of The Telegraph and Nicholas Wroe
of The Guardian along with the founder and president of the prize; Peter
Stead.
Secretary of State for Wales David Jones MP
said.
“Although he achieved significant international
acclaim, Dylan Thomas was, first and foremost, a Welshman. I am proud to be
here in the Wales Office, honouring his memory in such a way, and bringing
recognition to young literary talent from all walks of life, from all corners
of the globe.
“The prize has been designed to reflect the range
of Dylan’s creative output including poetry, prose, drama and short
stories. We at the Wales Office are proud supporters of this exciting concept.
We encourage all young writers and their publishers to come forward and take
part in this competition which will offer a worldwide platform for their work,
and provide a fitting legacy for Dylan’s life and work in his centenary
year.”
Peter Stead, founder and President of the International
Dylan Thomas prize, said:
“Tonight, in Dylan’s centenary year, we are
launching what is the seventh International Dylan Thomas prize. Previous
winners have come from Australia, the USA, Northern Ireland and Wales:
shortlisted writers have come from every continent. The prize commemorates a
writer who was acclaimed in his home town before very quickly achieving fame in
London and internationally. English language fiction, poetry and drama by
writers under 39 may be submitted for the £30,000 prize which is intended
to launch careers by identifying the most exciting new writing from around the
world.”
Professor Iwan Davies, Vice-Chancellor of Swansea
University, said:
“I am delighted that Swansea University is
sponsoring the International Dylan Thomas prize. It is one of the most
prestigious awards for young writers in the world. The prize also carries out
extensive work with educational institutions and we are proud to be associated
with a project which helps promote creative writing to children and young
people. We are very grateful to the Secretary of State for Wales for supporting
the prize and hosting this launch event.
“In the centenary year of Dylan Thomas’s
birth, it is very fitting that the University in his home town should be
supporting a prize in his name,” he said.
The
Chair of the judging panel is Peter Florence, founder of the Hay Festival and
the other members include India-based poet, journalist and dancer Tishani
Doshi, singer and broadcaster Cerys Matthews, Alison Pearson of The Telegraph,
Nicholas Wroe of The Guardian, writer and broadcaster Carolyn Hitt and poet and
translator Prof Kurt Heinzelman
Further information:
For
more information on the Dylan Thomas
prize.
2014 is the centenary of the birth of Dylan Thomas. In
addition to sponsoring the International Dylan Thomas prize, other highlights
of Swansea University’s activity to mark the centenary
include:
- Dylan Unchained – an international academic
conference on Dylan Thomas at Swansea University in September
2014
- New Study of
Thomas’s work – Professor John Goodby has just launched a
major study of Dylan Thomas, re-evaluating his work for the 21st
century
- New edition
of Dylan Thomas’s poetry- publication of a new and authorised
complete edition, edited by Professor John Goodby, an international authority
on the poet
- Taking literature to the wider world - our poets,
novelists, dramatists and critics will take their work to the wider world
through literary festivals, including Hay, during 2014.