The Guyana Annual has extended the closing date for entries for its 2018 edition to January 15 in response to requests from prospective entrants.
The initial deadline for entries in the categories of short stories, poetry, photography, cartoon, journalism and drama, was November 30.
However, while it was previously reported that competition entries had been “trickling in,” Sham Mohamed, Manager of the Guyana Annual production, reported last week that as deadline drew nearer, there was an overwhelming response.
She related that specific requests had been made by those interested in entering the Annual’s Oil and Gas essay competition for an extension of the closing date. The Tulsi Dyal Singh Oil and Gas Competition carries the largest award; the first place prize is $250,000, with the second and third place winners taking home $100,000 and $50,000, respectively.
The prize money for all other categories of competition are delegated as $40,000 (first place), $30,000 (second place) and $20,000 (third place).
Mohamed also made a special appeal to the participants of the recently concluded National Drama Festival to enter their scripts as there has been a deficit of entries in the drama category. Also, she noted that while there have been individual entries from students, schools are encouraged to enter the competitions through their various departments.
In addition to the Open Short Story, the Junior Short Story, the Open Poetry and the Junior Poetry categories, the 2018 edition inaugurates the conferral of awards, named after individuals who have had a great amount of influence on the arts locally, in six categories: the Sheila King Award for Short Stories for Children, the Bobby Fernandes Award for Photography, the Stephanie Correia Award for Fine Arts, the David de Caires Prize for Journalism, the Hawley Harris Prize for Cartooning and the Bertram Charles Prize for Drama.
The Oil and Gas essay competition is being sponsored by Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, who is credited for resuscitating the Annual in 1998, along with Petamber Persaud, who has been the magazine’s editor since 2004.
Additional details and competition rules can be accessed on The Guyana Annual Facebook page or uplifted from Guyenterprise, at 234 Lance Gibbs and Irving streets.
Entries can be submitted through email at theguyanaannual@gmail.com or in hard copy.
Despite the extension, the Guyana Annual 2018 edition is still expected to be published next February.
