Olive Schreiner Prize
おりーぶ・しゅらいなーしょう
Literary prize targeting emerging English writers from Southern Africa, honoring drama, prose, and poetry genres on a rotating basis. Established in 1961.
- Established
- 1961
- Organizer
- English Academy of Southern Africa
- Category
- Poetry and Contemporary Poetry
- Selection Method
- Open call
- Target
- Newcomer
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Olive Schreiner Prize is a literary award established in 1961 that recognizes English works by promising newcomers (writers not yet "established") in the genres of drama, prose, and poetry. The award rotates genres annually, with each genre effectively cycling every 3 years. Eligible submissions are works published within 3 years since the last award in that genre, targeting works published in Southern African countries or by citizens of Southern African countries. The prize was founded by SAAWK (Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns) and transferred to the English Academy of Southern Africa in 1972. Historically, the prize money has not been substantial (recorded as R500 in 1987 and R5,000 in 2010), but it is regarded as a prestigious award. Since 2018, the same writer is limited to a maximum of 2 wins.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Award recognizing new drama, prose, and poetry works. Primarily honorary, with prize money not substantial (R5,000 as of 2010).
- Cash Prize
- 5,000 ZAR
- Honor from winning
- Increased attention to the winning work and winner
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application reception | English Academy of Southern Africa handles application reception and administration | — | — |
| Selection (review by selection committee) | Selection committee appointed by the English Academy | — | — |
| Winner announcement | English Academy of Southern Africa (final decision) | — | Announced via the English Academy's official statement and related media |
Criteria
- Must be a work by a newcomer (writer not yet "established")
- Must be written in English in drama, prose, or poetry
- Must match that year's target genre (genres rotate annually)
- The work must have been published within 3 years since the last award in that genre
- Typically targets works published in Southern Africa or by citizens of Southern African countries
Application Tips
Dos
- Before applying, check the latest entry requirements and that year's target genre on the English Academy's official website
- Confirm that the work is written in English and belongs to the eligible genre
- Confirm that the work's publication date is within 3 years since the last award in that genre
- Check eligibility requirements in advance (such as publication in Southern African countries or author's nationality, etc.)
- Enhance the work's quality, originality, and style, and clearly provide publication details (publication date, publisher, etc.)
Don''ts
- Do not submit ignoring the entry requirements or submission methods
- Do not submit works published only in ineligible regions or unpublished works (follow the rules)
- Do not apply without confirming that additional awards are not permitted if the same writer has already won twice
From Judges
- Emphasis is placed on the potential as a newcomer, originality, insight into themes, and stylistic maturity
- Strict adherence to entry requirements such as publication timing and genre conditions is crucial
- Although the prize is not large financially, the judging tends to value the quality and freshness of the work
Related Awards
- Thomas Pringle Prize (another award by English Academy)
- Other awards and honors by English Academy of Southern Africa
- Related awards by Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns (SAAWK)