For the tenth time, the International House of Writers and Translators and the Ventspils City Municipality will present the international Silver Inkwell writing award for works in poetry, prose, and translation into and from the Latvian language created at this residency.
The award ceremony will take place October 17 at 7:00 PM in the concert hall “Latvija” during the concert “Literature and Music Meeting”. The concert will feature Fričas Bārda's poetry and the story of Carmen in a musical interpretation, performed by the mixed choir “Ventspils” and the Ventspils Chamber Orchestra under the direction of conductor Aigars Meri.
The award was created to recognize the most outstanding works created at the Writers' and Translators' House and to honor their authors.
This year, the jury decided to award the following prizes:
In verse 1 – to the poetess Ligia Purinaša for the poetry collection “Magnificat”;
2. in prose – for the writer To Inga Žolude about the book “Father”;
3. in translation from Latvian – to the translator Lila Raif (Lil Raif) for the translation of Rasa Bugavičūte-Pēce's work “The Boy Who Saw in the Dark”, Vilis Kassims' “Lysergin Blues” and Svens Kuzmins' “Brīvībene” into German;
4. in translation into Latvian – to the translator Daila Ozola about a selection of Estonian contemporary plays translation into Latvian from Estonian.
Prize Silver inkwell is awarded every other year. The prize is 900 EUR. The shape of the prize was conceived and made by an artist Janis Kupchus, based on the 18th-century fireplace tile paintings of the Writers' House.
The Ventspils City Municipality, appreciating the contribution of well-known and meritorious authors in Latvia, as well as the achievements of new but bright debutants, also presents two Excellence Scholarships – to a significant, meritorious and young, promising writer in Latvian culture.
This year they will be awarded to – art historian and publisher Laima Slava and young poet Kirills Ēcis.
Excellence scholarships are awarded annually. The scholarship amount is 500 EUR and a four-week stay at the International House of Writers and Translators.
Silver inkwell for a work in poetry, prose and translation created at the International House of Writers and Translators, presented for the first time at a ceremonial ceremony 2008. in the year.
Excellence Scholarships so far awarded to the following meritorious authors: Valdis Bisenieks, Andris Kolbergs, Knuts Skujenieks, Imants Auzinas, Uldis Bērziņš, Leon Briedis, Inta Čakla, Gundega Blumbergas, Juris Zvirgzdiņš, Gundega Grīnuma, Viesturs Vecgrāvis, Viktors Avotiņš, Guntars Godiņš, Ieva Lešinska-Geibere, Jānis Lejiņš, Ēriks Hānbergs, Imants Lancmanis and Lauma Lancmane.
And to the following young, promising writers: Andris Ogriņš, Arvis Vigulas, Artis Ostup, Alisa Zariņa, Jānis Vādons, Jānis Joņevs, Zanda Tereško, Sven Kuzmin, Krista Anna Belševica, Valters Dakš, Marija Luīze Meļķe, Vasilijs Karasjovs, Aksels Hirsch, Jūlija Dibovska, Robert Wilson.
This year in the jury committee worked: Deputy Executive Director of Ventspils City Municipality for Education and Culture – Ineta Tamane, Head of Pārventa Library – Solvita Štekerhofa, Poet – Ieva Rupenheite, Director of Ventspils Library – Astra Pumpura, Poet – Inga Pizāne, Poet, Translator – Edvīns Raups, Translator – Dace Meiere, Translator – Dens Dimiņš.
More information about the award www.ventspilshouse.lv and Facebook.
