The Observer/Anthony burgess prize for arts journalism is given to commemorate Burgess’s long association with the Observer.
Anthony Burgess was an energetic journalist beyond his prolific career as a novelist and composer. In his lifetime, he published two substantial collections of journalism, Urgent Copy (1968) and Homage to Qwert Yuiop (1986). Between 1962 and his death in 1993, he wrote many articles and reviews for the Observer, which he often spoke of as ‘my paper’. Among his ‘discoveries’ as a reviewer were Joseph Heller, Sylvia Plath and Umberto Eco.
The major objective of the prize is to encourage promising new arts journalists. The prize will be for the best writing on brand new work in the arts which has not previously been published, whether in print or on the internet. The winning essay might take the form of an interview or profile of a writer, artist or musician; a piece on a new artistic movement or venture; or a review of a book, film, a concert, a ballet or a stage play.
Prize
•A prize of £2000 will be awarded
•The winning entry will be published in print and online editions of the observer, and on the international Anthony burgess foundation website
Entry details
•the prize will be judged by a panel including William Boyd, Kamila Shamsie and Scarlett Thomas
•word limit is 1500 words
•entry fee is £10
the judges will be looking for imaginative, original, and thought-provoking arts journalism that would be suitable for publication in the Observer. They will be looking for emerging talent, innovative approaches and writing from outside the mainstream and they are especially keen to read entries from those who have not previously had work published by major media organizations.
Closing Date: 15th September, 2012
For further information, visit the link.
