The aim of the Balts’ Award is to recognize excellence and achievements related to promotion of Lithuanian-Latvian and Latvian-Lithuanian translations, teaching and enhancing the use of the Lithuanian and Latvian languages, research on the Lithuanian and Latvian cultural and historic heritage, as well as investigative journalism on Lithuanian and Latvian history, culture and tourism.
In accordance with the Regulation on the Balts’ Award, both persons and institutions can be nominated.
The Jury’s decision on a winner will be made in August of 2020. The winner of the Balts’ Award 2020 will be announced in early autumn and the Award presented by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Latvia in a ceremony held in Latvia.
The Balts’ Award of 3,000 euros is annual, receiving equal contributions from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Latvia. The Jury of the Award consists of representatives from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Latvia as well as independent language, literature and history experts from both countries.
The first Balts’ Award was presented in 2018 to professor and linguist Laimute Balode. In 2019 the award was granted to professor Alvydas Butkus.
The Award candidates for 2020 can be nominated until 30 June 2020.
The applications and the Curriculum Vitaes of nominees from Lithuania should be submitted in English to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania by e-mail [email protected], or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, J. Tumo-Vaižganto g. 2, LT-01511, Vilnius with reference to “Balts’ Award”.
The applications and Curriculum Vitaes of nominees from Latvia should be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia in English by e-mail to [email protected] or by post to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, K. Valdemāra iela 3, Rīga, LV-1395 with reference to “Balts’ Award”.
Further information is available from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania ([email protected] or +370 5 236 2444) or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia ([email protected] or +371 6 7016 201).
The regulations and an application form are included below.
Regulation on the Balts’ Award
Nor is that the only award up for grabs. Also May 18 the Baltic Assembly (BA) - the co-operation institution of the Latvian, Estonian and Lithuanian parliaments - is inviting the submission of works for the annual BA Prize in Literature, Art and Science by 1 June this year.
The BA Prize was established to promote the development of literature, art and science in the Baltic States and to recognize the best performances in these fields. Each prize is worth 5,000 euros and will be presented during the annual BA session on November 5 this year in Tallinn.
The prize in literature is awarded to the author of a novel, play, poetry, collection of stories or essay written in Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian. The period during which the work must have been published has been extended from three to five years.
The prize in art is awarded to an author or performer for a work of art or a cycle of works of art, applied art, music, architecture, theater or cinema created in the last three years. It can also be awarded to a director, soloist, actor, ballet artist or group of performing artists for outstanding artistic performance in the last three years.
In turn, the prize in science is awarded to the author of an outstanding scientific work or research series in the humanities, social sciences or natural sciences, if the work has an international significance. The period during which the work must be published has been extended from three to five years.
Literary, artistic and scientific works submitted to the award are evaluated by experts in the respective field, who together form the BA award jury committee. It consists of nine people - three from each of the Baltic States.
Entries together with an application addressed to the BA prize jury, the applicant's biography, two reviews and other additional materials, if any, must be sent to the Secretary of the BA Latvian Delegation Ingrida Sticenko by post by June 1 (Saeima, Riga, M.Trokšņu Street 2, LV-1811 ) or electronically to the email [email protected].
