A first in the region, the prize is a biennial award that recognises exemplary works of Singaporean literature. Authors of short stories, novels and nonfiction books can apply. In addition to the monetary prize, winning authors will receive an inscribed plaque and a certificate. The award is open to all Singaporean citizens and permanent residents, including foreign nationals, whose work has been published in English, or has been translated into English. The work can address any time period, theme or field in Singapore history and be either an original work or a translation. It can also be a biography or a collection of essays, or a documentary.
In the 2023 edition of the prize, shortlisted works include historical tome Seven Hundred Years: A History Of Singapore (2019, available here) and Kamaladevi Aravindan’s novel Sembawang, which details life in an estate over five decades. The other nominated books are literary fiction and nonfiction with a personal slant. Unlike the traditional view of Singapore history as a record of big movers and shakers, these works focus on everyday people and their struggles.
In 2024, the prize will be awarded to an outstanding publication in English that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Singapore’s history and has wider relevance. The prize carries a cash award of $50,000. It is administered by the Department of History at NUS, and entries will be accepted from Jan 1. The prize aims to stimulate “engagement with Singapore’s history broadly understood”, make its nuances “more accessible”, and generate greater awareness among Singaporeans, according to a statement from NUS.
The prizes are presented by the President of the Republic of Singapore in the name of Lee Kuan Yew, who played an instrumental role in building Singapore into a global economic powerhouse and was an advocate for cultural excellence and preservation. The winners are honoured at a special ceremony at the Istana in January.
The finalists were selected from a total of 289 submissions across six categories, which were received from all over the world. These were submitted by organisations and individuals working in the fields of arts, culture and heritage, education and research, community development, public service and social enterprise.
The HOFS Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and organisations who have raised the bar for niche sectors and made an impact on their communities. The judging panel comprises leading figures in the fields of design, architecture and urban planning. Their collective experience and expertise has been invaluable in assessing the entries, which were evaluated based on their level of innovation, functionality and aesthetics as well as their sustainability. The judging process was conducted in three phases: online assessments, panel interviews and site visits. The shortlisted projects are featured at WAF, a showcase of the world’s best buildings, future and landscape designs.