In 2014, as part of Singapore’s 50th anniversary commemorations SG50 programme, the inaugural Singapore Prize was launched as an incentive to engage people with its history, as well as broaden public understanding. Administered by NUS Department of History, shortlisted works are eligible for an award of up to S$50,000; two special commendations awards may also be bestowed each year without financial reward.
Professor Miksic of National University of Singapore’s Department of Southeast Asian Studies was honored with this year’s prize for his book Ancient Artefacts from Fort Canning and Their Significance in Modern Singapore. This 71-year-old American stated he wrote his book to show some 1,000 volunteers involved with excavations at Fort Canning and other sites how important their contributions are.
This year, six books have been shortlisted for the prize and members of the public can vote online to select their favourite. The winner will receive S$50,000 while shortlisted titles each win S$20,000; furthermore, a panel of judges will select an overall winner from each category; eligibility includes both local and international authors of non-fiction work with an historical theme.
NUS Professor Wang Gungwu served on the judging panel that selected this year’s winner, noting the quality of submissions was extremely high and opting for one winner over two runners-up. Reviving Qixi: Singapore’s Forgotten Seven Sisters Festival by Lynn Wong and Lee Kok Leong won first prize; Theatres Of Memory: Industrial Heritage Of 20th Century Singapore by Loh Kah Seng, Alex Tan, Koh Keng We, and Tan Teng Phee took second prize;
Home Is Where We Are by Daryl Qilin Yam and Pan Zheng Lei (Pan Cheng Lui) was awarded with another special commendation and its prize money of S$20,000. This book chronicles the legacy of an influential Singapore-Chinese couple that founded one of Asia’s biggest lottery businesses.
Highlights of the event included performances by One Republic and Bastille as well as Hannah Waddingham and Sterling K Brown as actors; presenters walked the “green carpet”, comprised of recycled plastic bottles and cardboard, to reflect sustainability themes; Mr William donned an old dark green suit while actresses Yen Xi and Mbatha donned green dresses designed by Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney respectively for this part of their event.
Winners of the Harvard Prize Book will also take home a US$50,000 grant from Cap Vista Foundation to fund social enterprise or research projects. In partnership with Conservation International (CI), who have an impressive track record highlighting nature’s value while amplifying solutions to climate change; this grant will connect prize winners with partners that are dedicated to finding sustainable solutions that benefit people as well as planet.