A prize founded by philanthropists, the singapore prize recognises and celebrates individuals and organisations that demonstrate leadership in green growth. This year, the prize added a new category for the Greenest City in Asia Pacific. It was won by Singapore, a city that is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and innovation. The prize also awarded winners in the categories of Design of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, and more.
This year’s program attracted the largest number of entries since its inception. Its 12 top prizes offered cash awards and an engraved trophy. In addition, there were several special mentions and reader’s favourite winners. Among the winners, Kullanan Wongrawiwan and Nichamon Chirapathama from Goodstuph Pte Ltd won Designer of the Year, Jill Soong won Producer of the Year, and Roslee Yusof won Director of the Year.
The winners of the poetry categories sparked controversy, with two male poets co-winning. Grace Chia, whose work Cordelia was shortlisted but did not win the English poetry category, criticised the prize for its gender bias. She said that a prize so coveted “apportioned to two narratives of masculine poetic discourse reeks of the engendered privilege that continues to plague this nation’s literary community”. She posted her speech on Facebook, but subsequently removed it.
In the non-fiction category, the judges commended Singapore’s work to overcome its climate challenges and for its efforts to build a sustainable economy. They also highlighted the country’s commitment to social and environmental justice, which has been demonstrated by its work in addressing issues such as mental health, housing, and education.
This year, the prize also celebrated philanthropists who have made significant contributions to society. One of the recipients, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, donated S$8.1 million in 2021 to a wide range of charities. It has become a major grantmaker in the country, funding numerous projects including kidney dialysis centres and bursary awards for students from low-income families.
The winners of this year’s Singapore prize were announced at an awards ceremony held in the capital. The event was hosted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and featured performances by renowned musicians. Besides the top three winners, four other writers won the readers’ choice award for their respective works. Each of these authors will receive a cash prize of $3,000 and an engraved trophy. They will also be given a 12-month subscription to audiobook platform StoryTel. In addition, each of the 12 top winners will also be a part of the Earthshot Prize (TEP), an ambitious global initiative led by Prince William to accelerate the development of innovative technologies to protect and restore our planet.
