The Hong Kong prize has become one of the most prestigious competitions in Asia. Designed to promote academic excellence and extracurricular participation, it rewards students who demonstrate a high level of scholarship, as well as exemplary commitment to community service. Students can win a range of prizes, including cash and book vouchers. The Hong Kong prize also provides a platform for students to showcase their talents and develop a sense of challenge.
The prize has been established since 1986 and is awarded to secondary school students who combine academic achievements with achievement in community service, leadership and other activities. The Hong Kong Academy of Humanities aims to recognize and encourage the work of early career scholars by establishing this award. Manuscripts should be the author’s first scholarly monograph, published or under contract with an academic press, in the field of humanities. Scholars whose work falls outside the standard disciplines may apply by emailing the Academy Secretary, Dr Catherine Ladds (hongkongacademy AT outlook DOT com), with a detailed explanation of their submission.
In addition to monetary awards, the winning team will be given the opportunity to meet with the winners of other hk prize categories at an exclusive networking dinner, and to present their ideas to government officials and key industry players. The winning submission will be chosen based on its innovative, practical and scalable solutions that can contribute to Hong Kong’s international development efforts and shape its role on the global stage.
Each organiser of the award will be responsible for drawing up the rules of its own category, publicising the competition, inviting entries and conducting a preliminary evaluation. To ensure consistency in the judging standard of the different awards, each award category will set up a final judging panel chaired by an invited member of the Organising Committee of the HKAI.
This year, the shortlist for the Hong Kong Art Prize included nine artists from Hong Kong, a record number in the prize’s history. This is a testament to the strength of the city’s art scene and its ability to attract top talent from around the world. The winner of this year’s prize will be announced in October. The judges will be looking for works that reflect Hong Kong’s unique urban landscape, and that are both contemporary and relevant to current social issues. The jury will also take into account the artistic and intellectual merits of each submission. The prize is worth $1.5 million. The winner will receive a cheque for $1,500,000. The runner-up will receive $100,000, and the third place winner will receive $50,000. The finalists will each receive a trophy, and the winner will be presented with a plaque at an awards ceremony in November. The winner will also be featured in an exhibition at the Hangar Gallery in Central. The Hangar Gallery is a non-profit organisation that supports the arts in Hong Kong. The exhibition will be on display until January 2018. The venue is free to enter.