News Archive

Dylan Thomas Prize Comes of Age

The Dylan Thomas Prize, the literary prize that rewards young writers under 30, is to take place on an annual basis after 2010, it was announced today. Initially established in 2003, the £60,000 Prize has been a biennial event with winners Rachel Trezise and Nam Le announced in 2006 and 2008 respectively. With the award now a firm date in the literary calendar, the new £30,000 award will be made annually. Commenting on the development,

Nam Le said: “I feel very honoured - and lucky - to be the last recipient of the biennial award. There's so much strong writing in that age bracket that the annual award will be faced with an embarrassment of riches." Nam is currently fulfilling a Prize engagement at the University of Texas at Austin, completing a Visiting Scholarship. He will be back in Wales to take part in next year’s Prize celebrations.

In conjunction with its new annual status, the Prize’s official Title Sponsor of 2008 - the University of Wales - has also announced its continuing involvement to 2012, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable future for the Prize and allowing further development of the Prize’s successful educational outreach programme – DylanED™.

Marc Clement, Vice Chancellor of the University of Wales, said: “The Dylan Thomas Prize is establishing itself as one of Wales’s great cultural assets. The Prize’s global reach and aspirations, its focus on youth and its emphasis on nurturing excellence are fully consistent with the goals of the University of Wales and we are proud to be its official Title Sponsor.

“The Education Programme we organised for the 2008 Prize was a great success, stimulating young people’s appreciation of literature and inspiring their creative writing talents. We are keen to develop this programme on an even larger scale as our involvement with the Prize continues.”

The founding consortium of Local Authority Sponsors - Swansea City and County, Neath Port Talbot, and Carmarthenshire County Councils - have also confirmed their continuing support for the new annual award, and will be working with the Prize to promote the splendours of ‘Dylan Thomas Country’ to an international audience.

In order to assist the Prize with its international ambitions, committees are now established in London and New York, chaired by Prize Patron, Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach. Both include luminaries from business, commerce and the media.

Ceri Thomas, Editor of Radio 4’s Today Programme, and a member of the Dylan Thomas Prize London Committee said: “I’m really pleased to be able to help the Prize develop its considerable ambitions. I believe the Prize is an innovative and vibrant way of attracting international attention and providing a window on Wales and its culture”.

Explaining the latest developments, Peter Stead, Chairman of the Prize, said: “It was always the intention that this award should become embedded in the international literary calendar. From its annual platform, the Prize can work even harder to encourage, support and nurture talent in young writers worldwide. Success to date has given us the confidence to take the next logical step by making the Prize an annual event from 2010”.

“On a more personal note, the Prize was greatly saddened to hear of the death of its Founding Patron, Dylan’s daughter Aeronwy. I know she was delighted that her father’s legacy lived on in the Prize.”

To ensure that legacy, the Prize is now actively developing a ‘Friends of Dylan’ programme for the growing numbers who wish to contribute and help guide the future of the Prize. The Friends of Dylan programme will be officially launched later this year but can be accessed now at www.dylanthomasprize.com

In a further development, the Prize is delighted to announce that acclaimed Californian actress, Kate Burton, daughter of Richard, and the outstanding actor Michael Sheen, have both agreed to join Lord Griffiths of Fforestfach as Patrons, helping to promote the Prize at high-profile events.

Speaking of which, the Prize will be supported by a fundraising recital to be held at Norwood House, New York on September 25 2009 with distinguished Welsh baritone Anthony Stuart Lloyd. The evening is hosted by the First Minister’s Office in New York in association with the British Consulate and the St David’s Society and Prize representatives will use the opportunity to outline plans for 2010.

Just ahead of that, the Prize can announce that literary entrepreneur Peter Florence, Director of the Hay Festival, will reprise his role as Chair of the Prize Judging Panel. He will announce his fellow judges at the Hay Festival 2010.

For more information visit:
www.dylanthomasprize.com