The Baltic Assembly (BA) invites submissions for the annual competition for the BA Prizes for Literature, the Arts and Science; these submissions should be sent by 1 June 2011.
The BA Prize was established to promote the development of literature, the arts and science in the Baltic States and to recognise the most distinguished achievements in these fields. The amount of each prize is EUR 5,000. This year, the Prizes will be awarded during the annual BA Session that will be held on 24 – 25 November in Tallinn.
The BA Prize for Literature is awarded to the author of a novel, play, collection of poetry, stories, or essays written in the Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian language. The first publication of the work should be within the past three years.
The BA Prize for the Arts is awarded to the author or performance artist for an individual work of art or a cycle of works in the fine arts, applied arts, music, architecture, theatre or cinema that has been created during the past three years. This prize can also be awarded to a director, soloist, actor, ballet dancer or a group of performance artists for an outstanding artistic performance presented within the past three years.
The BA Prize for Science is awarded to the author of an outstanding scientific work or a research series in the humanities, social sciences or natural sciences if the work has international significance, promotes the development of science in the Baltic region and has been published during the past three years.
Works in literature, the arts and science are evaluated by the Joint Judging Committee, which consists of nine experts in literature, science and the arts from each of the Baltic States.
The works, together with the candidate’s biography, two reviews and other relevant materials, such as citations in the media, CDs or DVDs, should be sent by 1 June 2011 (including) to Ingrīda Putniņa, Secretary of the Latvian delegation to the Baltic Assembly (address: Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, M. Trokšņu iela 2, Riga, LV–1811). Additional information can be obtained via e-mail Ingrida.Putnina@saeima.lv.
In 2010, the Prize for Literature was awarded to Estonian poet and prose writer Ene Mihkelson for her poetry collection Torn (Tower); the Prize for the Arts was awarded to Lithuanian artist and sculptor Antanas Žukauskas for communicating past values in the fine arts, striking the right balance between the modern and the traditional, and for promoting awareness of Baltic identity in the world; and the Prize for Science was awarded to Latvian academician Jānis Stradiņš for his book Zinātnes un augstskolu sākotne Latvijā (The Beginnings of Science and Higher Education in Latvia).
Information on the Baltic Assembly
The Baltic Assembly is an interparliamentary cooperation organisation representing Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. It was founded with the aim to coordinate Baltic cooperation on the parliamentary level, to discuss issues and projects that are common to all three countries, as well as to develop joint positions on political, economic, social and culture issues within the European Union and on the international level. The Baltic Assembly consists of national delegations each with 12 to 20 members.
Saeima Press Service