The Arab British Culture & Society Award 2010

ARAB BRITISH CULTURE & SOCIETY AWARD 2010

 

THE ARAB BRITISH CENTRE INVITES NOMINATIONS FOR ITS ANNUAL PRIZE OF £5000. THE PRIZE CELEBRATES THOSE WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE BRITISH PUBLIC’S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIFE, SOCIETY AND CULTURE OF THE ARAB PEOPLE.

The prize is open to candidates of any nationality and working in any field. You are also warmly invited to nominate any author, artist, filmmaker, play, programme, exhibition or organisation who you think is worthy of this Award. In addition to the prize money, the ABC will provide the winner with opportunities to promote his or her work more widely.
 

“At a time when the public hears little but news of violence and human suffering in the Middle East, this imaginative and timely enterprise by the ABC will honour and encourage those who have the capacity to bring to British audiences the rich and enduring life, society and culture of the Arab people.”

Sir Marrack Goulding
Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

Previous winners and specially-commended candidates include: Zaytoun CIC; Al Saqi bookshop and publishers; IB Tauris; Professor Tim Niblock; Raja Shehadeh; Margaret Obank; Maysoon Pachachi; Dr Venetia Porter; and Reem Kelani.

 

The winner of the 2010 prize will be chosen by a panel of distinguished Arab and British experts with a wide knowledge of the cultures of both the Arab World at the United Kingdom.

The group will be chaired by Dr Shelagh Weir, Research Associate at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and authority on Palestinian and Yemeni culture.

The six judges are:

  • Prof Maisa Farid, Cultural Counsellor and Director of the Egyptian Cultural Centre and Educational Bureau in London;
  • Malu Halasa, Editor and Journalist;
  • Heather Masoud, Co-Director of Zaytoun CIC, 2009 Award Winner;
  • Prof Tim Niblock, Professor of Arab Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter, 2009 Award Specially-Commended Candidate;
  • Margaret Obank, Founder and Director of Banipal literary magazine and Banipal Books, 2008 Award Specially-Commended Candidate;
  • Nadim Sawalha, Actor.

Nominations are welcome, either directly from individuals or organisations that wish to be considered for the award or from third parties who want to nominate a particular individual or organisation. Please note that previous winners and the specially-commended cannot be considered for nomination for five years and two years, respectively. All other former nominations can, of course, be re-submitted.

The closing date for entries is Friday, 5th March 2010. Nominations should be made in the form of a completed application form (attached below). Please email completed forms to imogen@arabbritishcentre.org.uk

The shortlist of applicants will be published in April 2010, followed by the announcement of the winner and presentation of the award by Dr Shelagh Weir at a ceremony shortly thereafter.

For further information, please contact:
Imogen Ware on E: imogen@arabbritishcentre.org.uk or T: 020 7832 1310

Download the nomination form here

Images above from left to right:
Calligraphy: © Mustafa Ja’far|2009|arabigraphy.com
Artwork: detail from NAJD|Mohammed Farea|2008|Courtesy of Offscreen CIC
Photography: © Saeed Taji Farouky |taji.co.uk