The Kuwait-based Souad Al Sabah House for Culture and Creativity has announced the commencement of submissions for its annual awards for 2023-2024. Entries are now open for the Sheikh Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah Awards for Scientific Creativity and the Souad Al Sabah Awards for Literary Creativity. The deadline for submissions is the end of September.
Ali Al Masoudi, Director of the Souad Al Sabah House for Culture and Creativity, said in a statement that the house aims to explore new and innovative scientific and literary topics that keep pace with the times.
The institution also aims to highlight significant yet underexplored aspects of Kuwait’s history and its comprehensive renaissance. By doing so, it seeks to educate Kuwaiti and Arab generations, enabling them to understand and build upon these foundations to shape the future.
Al Masoudi pointed out that the Sheikh Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah Awards for Scientific Creativity has adopted a strategy of renewal, an approach that is manifested in its new topics. These topics include ” Judiciary in Kuwait Before Independence”, “Nanotechnology and Future Industry Prospects”, “Kuwaiti Sports Before the 1960s,” and “The World of Tomorrow Between the Manufacturers of Epidemics and Vaccines.”
He added that the topics of the Souad Al Sabah Awards for Literary and Intellectual Creativity followed the same path of renewal in its four branches, featuring titles including “The Journey of Fine Art in Kuwait”, “Women’s Issues among Kuwaiti Poets”, “the Best Novel” and “the Best Poetry Collection”. Entries can be submitted via email.
“Dr. Souad Al Sabah has consistently dedicated herself to advancing Arab cultural affairs for over half a century by launching, sponsoring and participating in numerous activities. She has significantly contributed to nurturing young Arab writers. Her efforts, including these awards, aim to motivate young creative and talented writers, preparing a promising future for upcoming generations,” Al Masoudi stressed.
Applicants for the competitions must meet the following conditions: they must be Arabs under 35 years of age, their contributions must not have been published in a book or won in another competition, and their submissions must have an international standard book number (ISBN) from an accredited cultural body. Contributions based solely on Internet information will be excluded unless the source is clearly indicated by the author.
Al Masoudi emphasized that the jury panels are composed of highly qualified members known for their expertise, competence and integrity, a characteristic evident in the previous competitions hosted by the house. He highlighted that the award winners will receive both financial and moral recognition, along with the publication of their winning entries.
It is noteworthy that the Souad Al Sabah competitions are among the longest-running contests in the Arab world. Poet Souad Al Sabah has been dedicated to maintaining the continuity of these competitions since the early 1980s, making significant contributions. These competitions have consistently attracted overwhelming participation from across the Arab world.
