Open Call for the 2022 Drahomán Prize
On October 24, the founding organizations of the Drahomán Prize, an award for translators from Ukrainian into other languages, announced an open call for 2022. Based on the conditions of the Prize, all translators, regardless of their country of residence, who have at least one translated and published literary or documentary work, can be nominated for the Prize.
The nominated book of the translator must have been published by a foreign publisher within three years prior to the award year. A translator cannot be nominated for the Prize with a book translated by a group of translators.
A translator may be nominated by foreign cultural and diplomatic institutions, research centers, publishers, creative associations, and the Chapter members.
The submission includes a filled-out submission form as well as electronic and hard copies of the nominated book in Ukrainian and in the language of translation. Submissions for 2022 will be accepted from October 24 to December 10.
The Drahomán Prize was launched in 2020 by the Ukrainian Institute, PEN Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Book Institute in an effort to support and acknowledge translators from Ukrainian into world languages. It is awarded for the excellence in translation and contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian literature abroad.
The shortlisted nominees and the laureate are selected by the Chapter that consists of 9 members. It comprises reputable writers, translators, linguists, literary scholars, and cultural managers. Regardless of the year, the Chapter includes the General Director of the Ukrainian Institute, the President of PEN Ukraine, and the Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute. The Chapter members have the right to involve additional experts to consult on the submitted nominations.
The long list of nominees for the 2022 Drahomán Prize will be announced no later than December 15. The name of the laureate will be announced in spring during the award ceremony in Ukraine. The laureate receives a statuette created by the Ukrainian sculptor Anna Zvyagintseva and a 3,000 EUR prize (taxes included), as well as additional opportunities for professional growth and promotion of works.
The German translator Claudia Dathe became the first laureate of the Prize in 2020. Also, Imadeddine Raef, a translator from Ukrainian into Arabic, was awarded the Chapter’s Special Honour “for the excellence in translation and promotion of Ukrainian classical literature.”
The Polish translator, writer, and literary critic Bohdan Zadura became the laureate of the 2021 Drahomán Prize. The Special Honour of the Chapter “for the filigree translation of the classics of Ukrainian literary modernism and contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian literature in Europe” was awarded to Tobias Wals, a Ukrainian-to-Dutch translator.
Ukrainian Institute is a public institution affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Its mission is strengthening Ukraine internationally and domestically as a subject using the tools of cultural diplomacy. We promote international connections between people and institutions and create opportunities for Ukrainians to interact and cooperate with the world.
PEN Ukraine is a cultural and human rights NGO uniting Ukrainian intellectuals – writers, journalists, scholars, publishers, translators, human rights defenders, culture managers. With 145 members, it is one of 146 national centres of PEN International. It is a co-founder of the Vasyl Stus Prize, the Yuri Shevelyov Prize, and the George Gongadze Prize.
Ukrainian Book Institute is a government entity affiliated to the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine. Its mission is to develop state policy in the book sector, promote book reading in Ukraine, support book publishing, encourage translation activity, and popularise Ukrainian literature abroad.