The J. Ivanauskaitė prize is awarded to an author no older than 45 years old for the best work of Lithuanian literature for adults, corresponding to the wording “For free, open and courageous creative expression”. The work is to be published in 2023-2024.
Looking at the list of winners of the J. Ivanauskaitė prize, it is obvious that this prize unites very different creators who come from various fields and bring various experiences, whose activities often cross the boundaries of literature. It also lay in J. Ivanauskaitė’s personality and work. Greta Ambrazaitė, who won the prize last year, dedicated it to support Ukraine.
“If our time had coincided, I would like to talk with Jurga about the journey – home and away from home, through yourself to yourself, the courage to change, not to be attached, to dive out of the old skin,” said G. Ambrazaitė while receiving the award. – Also disintegration, the desire to disappear, to merge, and at the same time – the desire to belong, to feel the pull that holds everything together, a separate bright self. As a teenager, I began to look for books and friends, friends and books that, instead of denying, would respond in their own way to my inner turmoil – that those characters, real or fictional, would have “something wrong” just like me. At the time, it was almost a vital search for understanding. We managed to turn in the right direction: Jurga Ivanauskaitė’s books of short stories showed that there were people who felt the same way. The minus of not fitting in can be turned into a plus – it’s liberating.”
J. Ivanauskaitė’s prize is sponsored by “Tyto alba”, which publishes all of the writer’s work, and the laureate will be chosen by a special committee of experts. Individuals and legal entities can nominate candidates for the J. Ivanauskaitė prize until January 20. at Vykinto st. 14, Vilnius. 2 copies of the book and a recommendation are provided. Traditionally, the prize will be awarded at the Vilnius Book Fair. The laureate is awarded a diploma, an elephant sculpture from J. Ivanauskaitė’s collection and a cash prize. (The amount of the bonus is 1,000 euros, excluding taxes).
Jurga Ivanauskaitė award winners list
in 2024 – Greta Ambrazaitei for the book of poems “Adela” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
in 2023 – Aquilina Cicėnaitei for the novel “English Dictionary” (“Alma littera”)
in 2022 – To Tomas Vaiseta for the novel “Ch.” (“Baltos lankos”)
in 2021 – To Lina Simutyta for the book of short stories “City Festival” (Kauko’s stairs)
in 2020 – Jurga Tumasonyte for the short story book “Mermaids” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
in 2019 – To Mindaugas Nastaravičius for the poetry book “Bendratis” (“Tyto alba”)
in 2018 – Gabija Grušaita for the novel “Stasys Šaltoka: one year” (“Lapas”)
in 2017 – To Rimantas Kmita for the novel Pietinia kronikas (Tyto alba)
in 2016 – Aušra Kaziliūnaitei for the book of poems “The Moon is a Tablet” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
in 2015 – Giedrei Kazlauskaitei for the book of poems “Meninos” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
in 2014 – Agne Žagrakalyta for the novel “Eiguli’s daughter: case F117” (“Tyto alba”)
in 2013 – Gintars Bleizgis for the book of poems “Garden” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
in 2012 – To Laura Sintija Černiauskaita for the novel “Honeymoon” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
in 2011 – Rimvydas Stankevičius for the poetry book “The Most Simple Spells” (Lithuanian Writers’ Union Publishing House)
2010 – to Renata Šerelyta for the novel “Bluebeard’s Children” (“Alma littera”)
in 2009 – Kristina Sabaliauskaitei for the novel “Silva Rerum” (“White Bows”)
#Jurga #Ivanauskaitė #prize #competition #announced #candidates #invited #Culture
