Meg Rosoff Accepts Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Before Full Stockholm Concert Hall

Meg Rosoff tonight received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from Swedish Minister for Culture and Democracy Mrs. Alice Bah Kuhnke. In her acceptance speech she expressed both praise and criticism.

Rosoff spoke joyfully but also gravely. She expressed pleasure and pride at being recognized for her work as an author. She also described a sense of sorrow for today’s world of child refugees, leaders who know too little about the importance of art, music, and literature for young people, and societies that value lawyers and bankers more than teachers and librarians.

Meg Rosoff emphasized the importance of the imagination, quoting Astrid Lindgren: “Everything great that happened in this world happened first in someone’s imagination.”

– It is a great honour and a great responsibility to carry on the work that Astrid Lindgren began. I am not only grateful for the recognition this prize brings, but for a country that puts such tremendous value on children’s books and children’s imaginations.

In her congratulatory speech, Minister Bah Kuhnke mentioned difficulties facing young people today:

– Teenage-years are a bit like no man´s land. No one is invited to come close and there are no clear sign posts for direction. It is comfortable for the rest of us to keep it on a certain distance. And it can be awfully difficult to dig into our teenagers’ emotions since it forces us to reflect on our own lives. Someone who doesn´t fear this is this year’s laurate of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award; Meg Rosoff.

Musical entertainment was provided by Malena Ernman and Bo Kasper’s Orchestra. Hamadi Khemiri read from Rosoff’s novel, What I Was. The ceremony was hosted by Stockholm City Librarian Katti Hoflin.

 

 

 

For further information, please contact:
Helene Oljons, Communications Officer
Tel +46(0)765401025
E-mail: helene.oljons@kulturradet.se

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council.

Meg Rosoff to Sweden

Author Meg Rosoff is coming to Sweden to receive the 2016 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA). The Award Week begins May 23 and ends with the award ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall on May 30. 

“That´s amazing, I have to sit down, I can´t believe that” was Rosoff’s reaction when Jury Chairman Boel Westin informed the American writer living in London that she is the laureate of the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature.

The program for the award week includes meetings with press and media, meetings with children and young adults and a visit to Astrid Lindgren’s childhood home Näs in Vimmerby. On May 25, Meg Rosoff meets the public in a conversation with ALMA jury member Maria Lassén-Seger at Kulturhuset in Stockholm. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

The preceding week Meg Rosoff will do a flying visit to Stockholm to participate in the talk show Babel on Swedish National Television. 

The award week ends with the award ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall lead by writer, artist and City Librarian Katti Hoflin:

– The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is the largest award for children’s and young adult literature. to be the compere of the tribute for this year´s laureate Meg Rosoff is an honour and a joy for an old warrior for children’s and young adult culture like me.

This year’s award is presented by Swedish Minister for Culture and Democracy, Alice Bah Kuhnke.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council.

Strong feelings when PRAESA received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award 2015

It was an emotional moment when Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) was presented to the South African reading promotion PRAESA by Swedish Minister for Culture and Democracy Alice Bah Kuhnke. PRAESA, Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa, is the first laureate ever from the African continent.

At the Stockholm Concert Hall PRAESA was represented by Director Carole Bloch, Training Coordinator Ntombizanele Mahobe and Programmes Support Officer Malusi Ntoyapi. In her speech Carole Bloch emphasized how stories actually can change children’s and young people’s lives:

– We believe that the stories we tell, write and read can change lives. Sharing stories inspire us all to struggle against becoming overwhelmed by the challenges we meet each day in our fractured and profoundly unequal society. This is also the impetus behind the Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign PRAESA runs.

The Minister for Culture and Democracy, Alice Bah Kuhnke, underlined the importance of culture for democracy:

– For me as a minister of both culture and democracy it is very encouraging to see PRAESAs successful work using culture to strengthen democracy. A wide range of culture, arts and literature that reaches both adults and children is a prerequisite for democratic development and for preserving democracy.

Artist Kristina Amparo performed her own songs during the evening, and Swedish rap artist Petter performed his own text Fäller en tår. The program also included a street dance performance inspired by the South African Kwaito music style.

Host for the evening was Ingemar Fasth, Head of Literature and Libraries at Kulturhuset Stadsteatern.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council.

Lena Kåreland new member of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award jury

Today the Swedish Arts Council appointed Lena Kåreland as member of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award jury from July 1, 2015.

Lena Kåreland is Professor Emerita in Literature with a focus on didactics and literary theory. She is a member of the Swedish Institute for Children’s Books’ scientific board for producing a work on the history of Swedish children’s and young adult literature. She also reviews Swedish and foreign children’s literature in the Swedish National newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

Lena Kåreland has written some 15 books focusing on children and young adult literature, including monographs on Lennart Hellsing, Tove Jansson and Astrid Lindgren and has published numerous articles and essays in Swedish magazines and books.

She was awarded by the Swedish Academy in 2011, received the Gulliver Award in 1998 and the Karin Westman Berg Scholarship in 2013. She replaces Larry Lempert, who served the jury for 13 years, 10 of which as chairman.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council.

Focus on the joy of books and storytelling in this year’s award week

This year’s Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) week begins on Monday May 25. Representatives from South African organisation PRAESA will visit Stockholm and Vimmerby to participate in an extensive program targeting students, educators, media and an interested general public.

– Through their work, PRAESA has shown how crucial books and stories are in creating rich lives for children and young people, says Director Helen Sigeland. With their efforts to make literature vibrant in several languages and to raise children’s self-esteem as a starting point, we hope to inspire and engage. Many people want to meet them, and in the program this year the interaction with students and educators are particularly prominent. We are obviously very delighted and excited about this!

PRAESA, the Project of the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa, is an organisation working to promote reading and literature for children and young people. They were announced as this year’s recipient on March 31. In Sweden, PRAESA will be represented by Director Carole Bloch, Training Coordinator Ntombizanele Mahobe and Malusi Ntoyapi, Programmes Support Officer.

Selection of planned events during the award week:

May 26 Participation in the award ceremony for the reading promotion project Children and Books.
May 26 Public talk with author and jury member Mats Kempe at Kulturhuset.
May 27 Workshop with children at Kulturhuset.
May 28 Visit to Hjulsta elementary school that runs the project “The world’s ALMA”.
May 29 Visit to the Astrid Lindgren school in Vimmerby.
May 29 Opening of the new exhibition The whole world’s burning! at Astrid Lindgren’s Näs.
June 1 Award Ceremony at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

More information about the award week will be published on www.alma.se/en.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council.

Photo shoot at Skeppsholmen in Stockholm

This morning we had arranged a photoshoot with Barbro Lindgren at beautiful Skeppsholmen in Stockholm. The weather gods where with us, and here´s a few samples of the result of Stefan Tells work:

Events at House of Culture in Stockholm

Yesterday, the fourth day of the award week, Barbro Lindgren had two performances at Kulturhuset (House of Culture) in Stockholm. Photographer Stefan Tell followed her closely and took some brilliant images:

First, Barbro met five school classes (children aged 7 to 11) in Kulturhuset’s Studio.

The Lindgren brothers opened the meeting on stage, and the feeling was more like a rock concert rather than a lesson in literature.

Katti Hoflin, Head of Dunkers Kulturhus, lead the conversation with Barbro, who among other things gave the students a few inside tips if they were planning to become writers. Then the children had prepared questions for her, like Did you really know Astrid Lindgren? Why do you write about death so often? What´s your favorite color? Do you like yourself? How did you become so famous?

During the afternoon Barbro was a guest in the Swedish TV-show “Babel” along with Neil Gaiman (which will be broadcasted on Swedish National TV, SVT2 on Sunday 8:00 pm!).

And then followed a public conversation at Kulturhuset, where Barbro talked to author, librarian and ALMA jury member Mats Kempe. Georg and Sarah Riedel played Barbro Lindgren texts set to music by Georg.

Posters of Barbro Lindgren in Stockholm

The countdown for the award week has begun! Now one may encounter Barbro Lindgren Posters in the streets of Stockholm.

2014 Award Week Kicks Off In Vimmerby

Barbro Lindgren. Photo: Stefan Tell

Sunday marks the start of the 2014 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award Week, honouring Barbro Lindgren, the first Swedish ALMA laureate, who will meet her readers throughout the week. Her first stop is Astrid Lindgren’s childhood home, Vimmerby.

“We’re incredibly pleased and honored that Barbro Lindgren will pay her first visit as ALMA laureate to us here at Astrid Lindgren’s Näs,” said Kjell Åke Hansson, CEO of Astrid Lindgren’s Näs.

On Sunday, May 25, residents of Vimmerby can meet Lindgren as she holds a conversation with author and literary scholar Lena Kjersén Edman that will be open to the public at Astrid Lindgren’s Näs. Two more days in Vimmerby are planned, including interviews and meetings with students and teachers at the Astrid Lindgren School and participants in the Astrid Lindgren Conference.

After a day in Stockholm, where she will meet with children and present her Award Lecture, Lindgren will continue to Umeå. She will hold two more public conversations there. Annika Edlund, librarian, ALMA jury member and co-proprietor of Café Pilgatan, the nonprofit bookshop café where Lindgren will join an author’s breakfast, said:

“Getting to meet the recipient of the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature is a wonderful opportunity for us. It will be a boost and a salute to children’s and YA literature in general, and an honor for Umeå.”

The Award Ceremony will take place on June 2 at the Stockholm Concert Hall, with Minister for Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth and Crown Princess Victoria in attendance.

Photo: Stefan Tell

Barbro Lindgren to Vimmerby, Stockholm and Umeå

The award week for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) begins on May 25. During a week this year’s laureate, the Swedish author Barbro Lindgren, will participate in a tailored program to meet with the public, press and reading promoters. The program includes two intensive days in Vimmerby and meetings in Stockholm and Umeå.

– We hope that as many people as possible can take part in this year’s award week, says Director Helen Sigeland. We are particularly happy that this year’s award week includes Umeå, the 2014 European Capital of Culture. Barbro Lindgren will visit Café Pilgatan in Umeå, which is known for it´s reading promotion activities.

On March 25 it was announced that Barbro Lindgren is the first Swedish laureate ever,. She is one of Sweden’s most beloved authors with innovative and multifaceted works for children of all ages. Her production includes picture books, poetry, plays and books for children and young adults.

The program includes:

May 25   Visit to Astrid Lindgren’s Näs in Vimmerby

May 26   Visit to Astrid Lindgren’s childhood home Näs

May 27   Visit to the Astrid Lindgren School in Vimmerby, meeting with participants at the Astrid Lindgren Conference

May 28   Meeting with children at Kulturhuset (House of Culture) in Stockholm

May 28   Public conversation with a member of the ALMA-jury at Kulturhuset

May 31   Program at Café Pilgatan in Umeå

June 2  Award Ceremony, Stockholm Concert Hall

 

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. The award, which amounts to SEK 5 million, is given annually to a single laureate or to several. Authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and reading promoters are eligible. The award is designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature. The UN convention of rights of the child is the foundation of our work. An expert jury selects the laureate(s) from candidates nominated by institutions and organisations all over the world. The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award was founded by the Swedish government in 2002 and is administrated by the Swedish Arts Council.