Jan Michalski Prize for Literature

やん・みはるすきぶんがくしょう

Swiss international literary prize. Open to fiction and non-fiction in any language published worldwide.

International literary awardsSwiss literary awardsFiction awardsNon-fiction literary awardsWorld literatureIllustrated book awards

Established: 2009
Organizer: Fondation Jan Michalski pour l’Écriture et la Littérature (Jan Michalski Foundation for Writing and Literature)
Category: Nonfiction and Documentary Literature
Selection Method: Selection
Target: Professional
Frequency: 1 per year
Announcement Period: around November
Status: Active

Description

The Jan Michalski Prize for Literature is a Swiss international literary prize established by Fondation Jan Michalski, open to fiction and non-fiction works published worldwide in any language. The prize was announced in 2009, and the first winner was announced in 2010. The jury is composed of multicultural and multilingual members, the winner receives prize money (CHF 50,000), and finalists are invited to a three-month residency at Maison de l'écriture.

Prize

Main Prize: Winner receives CHF 50,000; finalists are invited to a three-month residency at the Maison de l'écriture (Fondation Jan Michalski).
Cash Prize: 50,000 CHF

Three-month residency invitation for finalists at Maison de l'écriture

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
First selection (first selection / longlist)	Multicultural and multilingual selection committee appointed by the Fondation (multicultural, multilingual jury)	—	Announced on the foundation's official website and press releases
Second selection (shortlist)	Same as above	—	Announced on the foundation's official website and press releases
Finalists	Same as above	—	Announced on the foundation's official website and press releases (finalists invited to residency)
Winner selection	Same as above	—	Official announcement (usually end of year, on foundation's website and press announcements)

First selection (first selection / longlist)

Judges Multicultural and multilingual selection committee appointed by the Fondation (multicultural, multilingual jury)

Announcement Announced on the foundation's official website and press releases

Second selection (shortlist)

Judges Same as above

Announcement Announced on the foundation's official website and press releases

Finalists

Judges Same as above

Announcement Announced on the foundation's official website and press releases (finalists invited to residency)

Winner selection

Judges Same as above

Announcement Official announcement (usually end of year, on foundation's website and press announcements)

Criteria

Literary quality
Originality
Contribution to world literature
Must be a published work
Any language/genre

Application Tips

Dos

Confirm that the entry is a published work
Collaborate with publisher or agent to prepare required documents
Prepare a summary in English or French, which helps the jury's reference
Clearly explain the work's literary characteristics and contribution to world literature

Don''ts

Do not submit unpublished manuscripts
Do not disregard submission guidelines or deadlines
Do not provide insufficient information for judging (publishing info, translator info, etc.)

From Judges

Judging emphasizes literary value transcending language and region
Clear and concise work info (publisher, publication year, translator, etc.) is advantageous
Demonstrating originality and international universality is important