We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Observer/Anthony Burgess Prize for Arts Journalism. Now in its fourth year, the £2000 prize is for previously unpublished, imaginative, original, and thought-provoking arts journalism.
The seven shortlisted pieces were selected by a distinguished panel of judges chaired by the novelist Kate Mosse and including the writers Alexandra Harris and Ruth Scurr, and associate editor of the Observer Robert McCrum.
The shortlist is:
- Leah Broad: ‘Alternative Sibelius: Pia Freund and Ismo Eskelinen perform Sibelius’s songs’
- Ed Cripps: ‘The South Bank Show: Paul Greengrass and Melvyn Bragg’
- Tom Evans: ‘Under The Paving Stones, the What? The Rebellious Noir of Anderson’s Inherent Vice’
- Tom Startup: ‘The Philosopher As Curator: A Short Enquiry Into Human Freedom by John Gray’
- Madeleine Pettit: ‘Blackpool Rock: Blur at the Winter Gardens’
- Iris Veysey: ‘Candida Höfer’s Memory at Ben Brown Fine Arts’
- Scott Wilson: ‘The Porcupine And The Goddess: The Institute of Sexology at the Wellcome Collection’
Once again we received more entries than ever before, from all over the world. The judges were delighted to read so many pieces of exceptional quality and on such a wide variety of subjects, including classical and popular music, TV of all kinds, fine art, book reviews and much more besides.
Andrew Biswell, Director of the International Anthony Burgess Foundation said:
“I’m very pleased that this year’s Observer/Anthony Burgess Prize has attracted a record number of entries. The prize establishes important connections between Anthony Burgess’s journalism and the work of contemporary writers. It is a particular source of pleasure that this year’s award will be made on 25 February, which would have been the date of Burgess’s 99th birthday.”
The winner of the £2,000 prize will be announced by the judges on the evening of Thursday 25th February 2016 at Kings Place, London, in a ceremony hosted by the Observer newspaper.
Further news updates about the prize can be found at www.anthonyburgess.org, @misterenderby or the International Anthony Burgess Foundation Facebook page.
