Deadline: 31 August 2011
The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, launched by the UAE National Chapter of the International Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), is an incentive for the children’s book industry in the Arab World intended to encourage publishers, authors and illustrators to develop the quality of books, in both form and content, as well as to motivate children to be open to the world of knowledge and culture. The significance of this award is manifested in encouraging children’s book industry partners to provide the best, to help the book Award initiative become a milestone in enrichment and creativity in the Arab world, and to further stimulate the imagination and creativity of children.
The Award also contributes to developing the children’s literature publishing industry, since the book is one of the most prominent and important contemporary cultural elements, serving as the key tool of knowledge within children’s programmes provided by advanced technology. Etisalat’s support of this award reflects the advanced awareness of this institution and highlights its leading role in community participation at both the local and national levels.
We invite creative and talented people to participate in the award, which we hope will contribute to the emergence of a new generation of children’s books that can attract children and encourage them to read.
THE UAE BOARD ON BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (UAEBBY)
The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) is the national section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which was founded in Zurich, Switzerland in 1953. UAEBBY officially came into being on 1st January 2010, following IBBY’s approval of the UAE as a member, which was a direct result of the efforts of Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the Emirates Publishers Association, and Founder and CEO of Kalimat Publishing House. As a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, UAEBBY aims to act as a bridge to facilitate communication and information exchange with establishments and institutions concerned with children’s books, to develop and promote children’s literature and artistic works, and to exchange skills with authors and illustrators. The organisation is also responsible for organising contests and conferences on children’s books, facilitating access to children’s books, especially in remote areas of the UAE, promoting authorship and production of children’s books in the UAE, developing public libraries for children throughout the country, encouraging translation of children’s books from and into Arabic, and helping to raise the bar for children’s books in the UAE to international levels.
AWARD OBJECTIVES:
The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature is designed to support the children’s book industry in the Arab world and achieve the following objectives:
• Upgrading the children’s book industry in the Arab world.
• Enhancing the Arab child’s culture and enriching it with everything that’s contemporary and distinguished.
• Consolidating the position of the children’s book against the technological alternatives.
• Motivating publishers, writers and illustrators to be innovative in the publishing of children’s books.
AWARD ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT
The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) is responsible for the supervision of the Award in compliance with its regulation.
Nomination Conditions:
1. The book should be published in the Arabic language.
2. The book should not have been published more than 3 years ago.
3. The book should not be a local, Arab or international award winner.
4. It should be an original work. Translated works shall be excluded.
5. Educational and scientific series and books are not eligible for entry.
6. The nominated book should not be a republication of an old version.
7. The book should be printed and published in a hard copy.
8. The award includes children’s books targeting children from 0-14 years of age.
9. Each publisher may nominate a maximum of three books.
10. Intellectual rights shall be taken into consideration upon the submission of applications.
11. The jury shall be authorized to overlook any nomination that does not comply with the conditions.
12. The award jury may withhold the award.
13. None of the candidates may object to the decisions of the awarding jury.
14. The winning publisher shall publish 2,000 copies of the winning book bearing the logos of the Award and the UAEBBY, for non-profit purposes.
PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE FOR NOMINATION
1. Nominations for the Award open on 1 June 2011.
2. The application form for nomination should be filled in accordance with the approved form and submitted along with the following:
• Seven non-refundable copies of the nominated title(s).
• Author’s and illustrator’s contracts for the nominated title(s), or acknowledgement of contracting.
• Profile of the publishing house and up-to-date CVs for the author and illustrator.
• An overview of the nominated works, along with the justifications for their nomination.
3. The submission deadline for nominations is 12 noon on 31 August 2011.
4. Nominations should be sent by express mail, and the following information should appear on the envelope:
Etisalat Award for Arabic
Children’s Literature
Al Qasba – Block D – First Floor
Sharjah P.O. Box: 5424
Sharjah – United Arab Emirates
Tel +97165542111 Fax +97165542345
e-mail: info@uaebby.org.ae
VALUE OF THE AWARD
The value of the Award is one million dirham’s (AED1 million), distributed as follows:
• 50% of the Award value goes to the publisher.
• 50% of the Award value to be distributed among the other parties involved, in a manner decided upon by the Jury.
JUDGING OF THE AWARD
First: In order to achieve the principle of transparency and professionalism in the selection
of members of the Jury, we take into account the following regulations:
• Literary works by members of the Jury are excluded from nomination for the Award.
• As far as possible, the Jury must be diverse, with members having a range of qualifications and specialties (publisher, author, critic, illustrator, and judging expert)
• The Jury may seek help from experts in the fields of science, literature or the arts when needed, in a way that does not contradict the principle of confidentiality and full neutrality, with adherence to matters mentioned in clauses 1 and 2.
• There must be full confidentiality in the selection of members of the Jury, and their names must not be revealed before the winner of the Award has been announced.
• The Jury must comprise a geographically diverse selection of members.
Second: The Award’s Board of Directors shall form a panel of judges (the Jury) every year, provided that it comprises a minimum of five members with relevant expertise, competence and integrity.
Third: The Jury’s sessions shall be presided over by a Chairman, to be chosen by the Award’s Board of Directors. The Jury shall select a Rapporteur.
Fourth: The names of the members of the Jury and its session should remain secret, and Award Management may announce the names of the Jury at the closing ceremony.
Fifth: The Jury’s work shall begin the day after the closing date for nominations for the award, and end with the submission of its report on the date determined by the Award’s Board of Directors.
Sixth: The Jury shall present a written report on the results of their work, explaining their reasons for having chosen the winner.
Seventh: Decisions by the Jury shall be reached by majority vote. In the case of a tie, the Chairman shall cast the deciding vote.
Eighth: If a Jury member cannot attend a session due to an emergency, his written report shall be sufficient and he shall have no right to object.
Ninth: The Jury is confidential and the names of its members should not be announced. It is not permitted for a Jury member to announce his name or the results of the arbitration or its deliberations.
Tenth: A Jury member shall step down from the membership if one of his relatives of first or second degree submits a nomination application for the award.
Eleventh: The Jury shall consider the books nominated for the Award according to the conditions approved in the Award’s work system.
Twelfth: The Jury shall submit its detailed report, signed by its members, to the Award’s Board of Directors for approval of the results.
Contact Information:
For inquiries: info@uaebby.org.ae
For submissions: Etisalat Award for Arabic, Children’s Literature, Al Qasba – Block D – First Floor, Sharjah P.O. Box: 5424, Sharjah – United Arab Emirates
Website: http://www.ibby.org/
