The Singapore Prize has been relaunched with a more substantial prize and expanded category, encouraging more people to engage deeply with Singapore’s history and heritage. Thanks to a generous donor who doubled prize amounts and created new categories.
Prizes are presented to people who, over time, have gone above and beyond in performing acts of kindness and caring that go above and beyond the expectations. These acts could take the form of community service, charitable work or even philanthropy – the winner being acknowledged for their efforts while inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Winners of this prize are widely known for their commitment to upholding and advocating the values that define Singapore, including equality, diversity, religious harmony, meritocracy, pragmaticism and education. Furthermore, this prize places great emphasis on both social good and the arts.
This year’s winners were revealed during a glittering ceremony in Singapore. Prince William, chairing the charity that established this prize in 2020, said their solutions showed that “hope does remain” while confronting climate change. Additionally, he applauded their courage in taking risks and being bold.
Notable winners also included an Indian manufacturer of solar-powered dryers, a soil carbon marketplace and groups working to make electric car batteries cleaner, restore Andean forests and deter illegal fishing. Prizes ranged from $100,000 to $2 Million and were presented by an expert panel that included scientists, entrepreneurs and a former US vice president.
This prize has a long-standing tradition of combining recognition with philanthropy. Each winning artwork is displayed at Millenia Walk before auctioned online to raise funds for The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, an initiative providing free arts education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Since its conception, this competition has sought to capture Singapore’s distinct identity and celebrate its diverse landscapes, cultures, and quiet beauty. Previous winners have explored topics ranging from climate change and identity formation to memories and personal loss.
This year’s prize was made possible thanks to an anonymous donor, who increased both prize amount and added a new category – multimedia historical works – which allows participants to submit works that go beyond traditional approaches to Singapore history and demonstrate its complexity through multimedia techniques.
The prize’s new category for multimedia historical works will be open to artists, authors, and producers who create works using any combination of media to present Singapore’s history in an entertaining, innovative manner – from traditional texts to video, sound art or any other forms. Works must cover any field, theme or period in Singaporean history while offering new insights or exciting ways of exploring our shared history. Ideally delivered in English – however any translation into another language would still qualify – although no limitations will be placed on production dates are imposed by this category!