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The Bridport Prize Announces a New Award for Dorset Writers
The Bridport Prize is delighted to announce a new award
specifically for Dorset writers. Thanks to the generous
sponsorship of Frampton's of
Bridport, there will be an extra bonus for the highest
placed Dorset writer in the Bridport Prize each year.
The Bridport Prize is one of the top competitions for
new writing, with entries coming from as far afield as Eritrea
and Estonia and prizes starting at £5000. To honour the
roots of the competition in Bridport, Dorset, this new prize will
reward the highest placed DORSET writer with an extra
prize of £100 plus a specially commissioned trophy, based
on Hardy's Monument.
"Those of us who help organise the Bridport Prize - opening
the thousands of entries, sorting, coding and sending them off to
our distinguished judges - we love the fact that entries come
from all over the world. But then when we have a local winner, it
is so exciting somehow. It's hard to explain, but it just feels
so special that one of our local writers can win against
professionals and amateurs from all over the world! It feels
right that we should acknowledge that and give them a little
something extra" says Frances Everitt, competition
organiser.
Although it is a much vaunted international writing prize, the
Bridport Prize still holds its annual prizegiving here in
Bridport - right above Frampton the butcher's heads in fact! In
the Bridport Town Hall.
"Some people might think it's funny the butcher sponsoring
the arts - but the way I see it, writing is something anyone can
do - I've known ordinary people from the town who have been
placed in the Bridport Prize with their poems or stories. I think
it's great to give them a bit of a pat on the back" said
Phillip Frampton.
The Bridport Prize is most grateful to Frampton's of
Bridport for their support in encouraging creative writing in
Dorset. Their shop, established in the town for over 14 years,
offers the very best in Dorset produce. Phil Frampton will
present the first award at this year's prizegiving lunch on 17th
November 2007.
The artist commissioned to make the first part of the trophy
or sculpture is James
Verner, the furniture designer/maker, based near
Marshwood. His sculptural pieces, made from beautiful,
sustainable, indigenous timber, have established him at the
vanguard of the contemporary furniture scene.
Each year the Bridport Prize will commission a different
artist to make that year's section. It is hoped that over the
years the sculpture will develop into an extraordinary and
exciting work of art.
Dorset writers are encouraged to participate in next year's
competition, launching at the end of November 2007.
The winner of the Dorset Prize in 2007 was Christopher Stocks from Portland Dorset
| Christopher Stocks was born in Yorkshire, and studied poetry
at Manchester with Michael Schmidt. He has worked for, among
others, Channel 4, Harpers & Queen, the Evening Standard, the
Sunday Telegraph, the Girl Guides, and as a contributing editor
to Wallpaper magazine. Most recently he was sacked as gardens
correspondent for the Independent On Sunday. Forgotten Fruits, his book on the stories behind Britain's best-loved varieties of fruit and vegetables, will be co-published by Random House and The Guardian in April 2008. For the last five years he has lived on the Isle of Portland, in a stone house overlooking the sea. He collects perfume and loves swimming off Chesil Beach but hates Swiss chard and light jazz. He is not married and has no children. www.christopherstocks.com |
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 | The Bridport Prize is a fundraiser for Bridport Arts Centre, charity no 1069780 |