An award which recognises poetry publishing skill is offering a new not-to-be-missed prize for a poet this year – a Harvard University Summer School residency in Greece.
The National Library of Scotland’s Callum Macdonald Memorial Award recognises the publisher of an outstanding example of pamphlet poetry, where the pamphlet or its publisher has a connection with Scotland or Scottish culture. The winning publisher receives a £750 prize and holds the Callum Macdonald Quaich for 12 months.
This year, in addition to the prize to the publisher, the poet of the winning pamphlet will be named 'Michael Marks Poet in Residence' and spend two weeks at the prestigious university's summer school in Greece.
Martyn Wade, CEO of the National Library of Scotland, said: “The Callum Macdonald Memorial Award is now in its 11th year and during the last decade it has recognised a wealth of talent from publishers who hail from, or are inspired by, Scotland.
“The National Library is proud to once again host the awards which encourage creativity and I am confident that the possibility of a Harvard residency will galvanise aspiring poets.”
The NLS award is funded by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust and other friends and supporters, in memory of Scottish literary publisher and printer Callum Macdonald, and is administered in association with his widow, Tessa Ransford OBE.
The award encourages, recognises, and rewards the publication of poetry in pamphlet form. All entries submitted are added to the National Library of Scotland’s collections, annually enhancing the Library’s important collection of contemporary Scottish poetry pamphlets.
Stichill Marigold Press and Hansel Cooperative Press shared the 2010 title. This year Leonard McDermid, Kelso-based poet and founder of Stichill Marigold Press; and Christine De Luca, ofOrkney-based Hansel Cooperative Press will form part of the judging panel.
For more information on the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award, including how to submit an entry, call 0131 623 3842 or visit www.nls.uk/about-us/awards/callum-macdonald-memorial-award
The closing date for entries is March 28. Judging will take place in April 2011 where a shortlist will be produced. All shortlisted entries will be displayed at the awards ceremony at the National Library of Scotland on George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, on May 19.
About the Callum Macdonald Memorial Award
The annual Callum Macdonald Memorial Award was established in 2001 in memory of Callum Macdonald MBE, Scottish literary publisher and founder of Macdonald Publishers and Printers. Its aim is to encourage, recognise and reward the publication of poetry in pamphlet form.
The Callum Macdonald Memorial Award is supported by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust. The award is administered by the National Library of Scotland.
Entries must be:
· No less than six or more than 36 pages in length, not including preliminaries
· Bound with a limp cover, and folded, rather than case bound
· In any of the languages used in Scotland, with translations into English or Scots where relevant
· Published in the calendar year preceding the current award.
· Submitted in four copies of up to three pamphlets
· Include a short note explaining the aims of the publication and the aesthetic choices made, outlining the connection with Scotland or Scottish culture.
About the National Library of Scotland
· The National Library of Scotland is a major European research library and is the world’s leading centre for the study of Scotland and the Scots - an information treasure trove for Scotland’s knowledge, history and culture with millions of items.
· The Library’s collections are of world-class importance. Key areas include rare books, manuscripts, maps, music, moving images, official publications, business information, digital collections, science and technology, and the modern and foreign collections.
· The Library holds well over 14 million items, including printed items, approximately 100,000 manuscripts, over 32,000 films and nearly 2 million maps. Every week it collects approximately 6,000 new items. Around 80% of these are received free of charge in terms of the Legal Deposit legislation.
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