A record number of awards were presented in 2023 at the President’s Volunteerism & Philanthropy Awards (PVPA) 2023, the highest national recognition for selfless individuals and organisations that contribute towards Singapore’s well-being. The winners were conferred by the President of Singapore in a ceremony held on 17 October at the Istana.
Eighty-one-year-old novelist Meira Chand was conferred the Cultural Medallion, the city-state’s highest arts accolade, along with fellow novelist Suchen Christine Lim and Malay dance veteran Osman Abdul Hamid. The award, established in 1979, honours artists “whose artistic excellence and contribution have enriched Singapore’s arts and culture scene”, according to the National Arts Council website.
Stories of average Singaporeans take centre stage on the shortlist for this year’s NUS History Prize, which was launched in 2014 to mark the country’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It is awarded by the NUS Department of History and is worth $50,000. On the list are historical tomes such as Seven Hundred Years of Singapore by Kwa Chong Guan, Tan Tai Yong and Peter Borschberg, but also works with a personal slant. For example, Kamaladevi Aravindan’s novel Sembawang (2020, available here) looks at a family estate and its history through the lens of an everyday person rather than a historian.
The book’s premise is that people should not be defined by their money or social status, and this message resonated with the judges. “It is a heart-warming story about the human spirit and how they can transcend obstacles,” said judge Shubigi Rao, who also won this year’s best English graphic non-fiction with her Pulp III: An Intimate Inventory Of The Banished Books.
Writing is a hugely important activity for society, and the NUS Storytelling Prize has been set up to encourage new talent in this field. The winning entries — all in English — range from fiction to non-fiction, and this year there were two new categories introduced: the best English debut and the best English translation.
A total of 12 awards were given across 4 categories this year, including the President’s Special Award for Young Talented Artist. This is the third time that the NUS Storytelling Prize has been given and it is a great privilege to have honoured these talented, young artists.
