Friends, this may not seem relevant now, but it is actually necessary for our spiritual survival. It is very simple to do - come in, vote and, if possible, donate.
Please!
Here is a letter that came to me from the great Russian writer Mikhail Shishkin:
Dear Anatoly!
You know that I founded the Dar literary prize. I am now asking my friends and I would like to ask you to support my initiative with a reader's vote.
Independent of the jury competition, reader voting is now underway in the form of collecting donations: on the prize website, readers can vote for one or more shortlisted writers - the minimum contribution is 10 euros with no limit upwards. Donations are anonymous. This is a financial support for all finalists, all donations will be transferred to the writers.
The actual task of our prize is not so much to determine the winner as to help both new publishers and authors survive in this difficult situation. And the point of the readers' vote is not only to determine the winner, but also to financially support the shortlisted authors. Many of them live in exile and are in need, some - like Maria Galina - in Ukraine under bombs. They need to be helped. Therefore, it is very important that as many people as possible take part in this donation collection. You can vote for a few authors, or you can vote for all of them.
I have a big request to you to vote yourself (you can vote for different authors and as many times as you like) and to ask your friends and acquaintances who may be interested in this initiative to support it with donations. It's not about writerly ambitions, not about competition, but about solidarity of people who still need culture in Russian. It is very important that the prize gathers as many votes and donations as possible. Thank you very much for your support!
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Award is given annually. The jury votes, with each member selecting between one and three works. The winner is the author whose work receives the most votes. Additionally, a reader’s vote (Crowdfunding) is conducted on the Award’s website, where readers can vote for authors and support them financially.
What Awards Are Provided?
The winner of the Award receives a grant to translate the work into English, French and German. Also, as part of the reader's vote, all collected funds are transferred to the authors for whom the readers voted.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Прием заявок на конкурс второго сезона премии начнется 1 сентября 2025-го и закончится 15-го октября 2025 года.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
В январе 2026 года Совет Экспертов объявит список финалистов. Читательское голосование начинается в тот же месяц. В феврале-апреле члены жюри читают книги-финалисты, а победителей Премии и читательского голосования объявят в мае 2026 года.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
В конкурсе второго сезона могут принимать участия произведения, изданные в 2024-м году. Произведения (роман, повесть, сборники рассказов и эссе, документальная проза), вышедшие отдельными изданиями или опубликованные в журналах. Номинировать на премию имеют право как издательства и редакции журналов, так и сами писатели или третьи лица (с согласия и письменного подтверждения автора). Тексты подаются к рассмотрению в электронном виде. Премия «Дар» открыта для всех авторов. Учитывая главные цели премии: продвижение современной русскоязычной литературы за пределами РФ и характер самого вознаграждение (грант на перевод) - приоритет будет отдаваться авторам, чьи произведения ранее не переводились на английский, французский и немецкий языки.
