The Sydney Prize honours writers who promote peace with justice. Each month a writer or group of writers will receive the prize, and their work will be highlighted on this website. The winner will be announced the second Wednesday of each month. Each entry will be considered by a panel of judges. The judges will consider both the quality of the writing, and the impact that it has on its readers.
The prize is named for Sidney Wertimer, an American philosopher who devoted his life to the ideals of liberal education. The prize is given in his memory by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, a national association of scholars, and is intended to encourage academic excellence.
Overland magazine is proud to be part of the annual Sydney Prize. The prize gives young writers the chance to explore the craft of writing while being recognised by professional publishers. The prize is open to all students of any age, and there are two categories: short stories and novels. The winners are announced at a special event in the Overland offices, and the prize money is AUD$10,000.
This year, the Sydney Prize was awarded to Nazanin Boniadi. Her work fighting for women’s rights in Iran is inspiring, and she is helping to turn outrage into action. “I congratulate her on winning this important prize and I look forward to welcoming her to Sydney later this year,” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
Each year the prize is awarded to a writer or group of writers whose work has had a positive impact on Australian society. The work is considered on a national basis and both past achievement and the potential for the work to continue contributing to Australian society into the future are taken into account by the judging committee. The finalists are listed on the Sydney Prize website.
The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards recognise the essential role that the arts play in affirming our sense of identity and community as Australians. Each year, the prestigious awards are decided by a jury of experts who are drawn from across Australia. The judging criteria is broad and considers the contribution of an artist to Australian culture, whether through their artistic practice or their leadership in their field.
The prize was introduced in 1950 to honor journalists, writers and public figures who pursue social justice and public policy in service of the common good. The Hillman Foundation is the oldest of its kind in the United States and Canada. The prize is awarded monthly; works may be nominated from anywhere in the world, so long as they are published in English and appear in an American magazine/newspaper/website/blog/tv news show/radio news broadcast or book. In addition to the Hillman Prize, the Foundation also administers the SEIU Reporting on Racial and Economic Justice award.
