Shalom Australian Jewish Book Awards
Sydney-based Shalom has announced the creation of a new prize under the banner of the Shalom Australian Jewish Book Awards to recognise excellence in contemporary Australian fiction and non-fiction and to inspire and support current and future Jewish Australian authors.
The Wingate Award for Unpublished Manuscripts (Jewish Subject), supported by Investment Manager Wingate (http://www.wingate.com.au), is open to writers of all levels – established, emerging and beginners. Manuscripts that engage in some capacity with Jewish experience are eligible to win the Award, which includes a $4,000 prize, a mentorship with judge Lee Kofman, and a manuscript reviewed by Morry Schwartz, owner of Schwartz Publishing.
Submissions opened on 27 June 2024 and close on 29 September 2024 at 11.59pm. A panel of three judges will judge the submissions, fiction or non-fiction (for adults, children or young adults) with a Jewish theme. The winner will be announced in December 2024.
The Wingate Award for Unpublished Manuscripts (Jewish Subject) is generously supported by Investment Manager Wingate. “Wingate is a long-standing supporter of Jewish education, arts and culture. This award is an investment in nurturing emerging writers within the community, with the belief that literature has the power to inspire and transform lives. It strongly aligns with our purpose to ‘enlarge and enrich the lives of all with whom we interact’ and celebrates achievement. We are delighted to be supporting this important award,” said Wingate Founder and CEO, Farrel Meltzer.
Among Shalom’s aims in establishing the Shalom Australian Jewish Book Awards are promoting the reading of important Jewish texts, and inspiring and supporting current and future Australian authors on Jewish subjects. Encouraging Australian Jewish literacy is a core value of the organisation, which also supports the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival (SJWF), a year-long program of interactive events showcasing Jewish authors and works.
“We are thrilled to offer this award for unpublished manuscripts and acknowledge that writers at all stages of their career deserve support and acknowledgement. The Wingate Award joins two other prizes announced earlier this year for books published in 2023. We all benefit from a flourishing local arts community, and our aim is to provide a platform for authors to receive further exposure and publicity, and to award writers with a monetary prize to further support their literary pursuits,” explained Anna Stern, Deputy Director of Programs at Shalom who initiated the project.
Enquiries
Anna Stern, Deputy Director of Programs Shalom: 9381 4000 or anna@shalom.edu.au
https://www.shalom.edu.au/australian-jewish-book-award
