LITERARY prizes appear to be at risk, with a spate cancelled in the past few weeks over funding. The Desmond Elliott Prize this week said it will go on hiatus next year, while the Sunday Times Short Story Award is also likely to stop. The Costa Prize and Blue Peter Award both announced their permanent termination last month. Maddie Mortimer, above, won the 2022 Desmond Elliott award.
Chris Gribble of the National Centre for Writing told The Bookseller that there are “fewer opportunities than ever for the work of early career writers to be recognised”. Sana Goyal, who has a PhD in literary prizes, told us the cancellations are a “huge loss” for arts in the UK. “While prizes have a lot of work to do — in terms of inclusivity and diversity,” Goyal said, “they can be really beneficial for writers, affording visibility and financial stability.”
