Literary prize sparks chain of unexpected refusals from winning authors
Two writers make bold decisions about their prize money from UKʼs top non-fiction award. While one refuses the cash completely other decides to use it against the sponsor company
In a non-standard turn of events at 11/20/24 Baillie Gifford prize ceremony‚ both winner and runner-up made unexpected moves regarding their awards
Viet Thanh Nguyen (a Pulitzer-winning author whose memoir “A Man of Two Faces“ earned him 5000 pounds as runner-up) announced his plan to redirect the prize money. The South Vietnamese-born writer – who got famous about 8 years ago for his debut novel – decided to support Palestinian writers through “We Are Not Numbers“ organization
The main prize winner Richard Flanagan took an even more direct approach: he wont accept his 50‚000 pounds prize until the sponsoring company changes its investment policies (which currently include fossil fuel companies)
These actions follow recent changes in UK literary scene; Baillie Gifford has already stepped back from several festival sponsorships due to growing pressure. The company tried to explain its position saying that its connections to certain regions are through big tech companies investments: however that didnt stop the controversy
One of those contemporary injustices that we struggle to remember is the Israeli occupation and the deprivation of Palestinian rights
The sponsoring company faced similar issues before - just this summer they had to cut ties with multiple literary festivals after celebrities threatened boycotts. Meanwhile other cultural institutions like Sadlers Wells theatre face similar pressure over their corporate partnerships
