Competition for the Sholem Aleichem Prize in 2027

The State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education (Derzhmystetstv) invites authors and creative teams to participate in the competition for the Sholem Aleichem Prize in 2027. This literary award aims to honor the best literary and artistic works in Ukrainian that deeply explore and popularize the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples. In addition to fostering cultural dialogue, such works should contribute to building and promoting a positive image of Ukraine on the international stage.

Both individual writers and creative teams of up to three people are eligible to apply for the prize. Only completed works that have been officially published (made public) within the last five years are accepted for review. An important condition is that the nominated works must not have been previously awarded this prize or other state awards, ensuring support for new achievements within the literary and artistic community. Works that participated in previous years but did not win may be resubmitted for consideration.

• Candidates: The prize is awarded to an author or a creative team of authors consisting of no more than three people (citizens of Ukraine).
• The prize is not awarded posthumously.
• Works that participated in the competition in previous years and were not awarded the Prize can be nominated again.
• Submitting entities: Proposals regarding candidates can be submitted by:
  • creative unions, associations;
  • scientific, national-cultural, national-educational societies;
  • literary, literary and artistic associations;
  • editorial offices of periodicals, publishing houses;
  • public associations operating in the cultural sphere;
  • other civil society institutions in the cultural sphere of the corresponding functional direction;
  • an individual author or a team of authors independently.

• Cash reward: The winner is paid a cash reward of 20.0 thousand UAH.
• Source of funding: The payment is made from the funds provided for this purpose in the budget of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

• July 01, 2026 — Start of document submission.
• November 01, 2026 (inclusive) — Deadline for document submission.
• Until November 01, 2026 — Deadline for resubmitting documents in case they are returned by the organizer due to shortcomings (after eliminating these shortcomings).
• 2027 — Awarding of the Prize.

1. Primary method: Documents are submitted to the State Agency for Arts in electronic form through the Register of applications and recipients of state support in the field of culture (in the electronic cabinet of the applicant or submitting entity).
2. Alternative method: Only in case of objective impossibility of submission through the Register, documents can be sent in electronic form to the email address: a.komendant@arts.org.ua.

The prize is awarded for the best literary and artistic works in Ukrainian that meet the following criteria:

• Popularize the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples.
• Promote a positive image of Ukraine in the world.
• Works must be published (made public) in a completed form within the last five years, but no later than the date of the announcement of the competition.
• Works have not been previously awarded this Prize or other state prizes.

• A petition for awarding the Prize in an arbitrary form (other documents confirming the applicant's professional qualities may be attached).
• A brief description of the work submitted for the Prize.
• A copy of the work in paper and electronic form OR a work in electronic form with confirmation of its publication.
• Reviews and feedback on the work published in the press or social networks (submitted only if available).
• Written consent of the applicant(s) to nominate the work for the Prize (submitted according to the organizer's template).
• Written consent of the applicant(s) to the processing of personal data (in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection").
• An information sheet about the applicant(s) containing:
  • Full name (if any);
  • Date, month, year, and place of birth;
  • Presence of state awards;
  • Contact phone number and email address or other means of communication;
  • Creative achievements.
• A copy of an identity document of the applicant(s) that confirms Ukrainian citizenship.
• A copy of a document assigning a taxpayer registration number (TIN) OR a copy of a passport of a citizen of Ukraine (for individuals who refused a TIN due to religious beliefs and have a corresponding mark in their passport).

• Data responsibility: The completeness and reliability of the provided information are ensured by the submitting entities.
• Personal data processing: Personal data provided by the applicants are included in the personal data base of the State Agency of Ukraine for Arts and Art Education (Derzhmystetstv).
• Data transfer: In case the Prize is awarded, the winner's personal data are transferred to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine for the purpose of conferring the title of laureate, paying the cash reward, and further storage.
• Document verification: In case of discrepancy of the submitted documents with the requirements or their submission after the established deadline, they will not be considered and will be returned to the submitting entity indicating the reason (with the possibility of resubmission before the deadline after eliminating the shortcomings).

• Restrictions on works: Works that have already been awarded this Prize or other state prizes cannot be nominated.
• Lifetime requirement: The Prize is not awarded posthumously.
• Publication deadlines: Works must be published (made public) in a completed form within the last five years, but no later than the publication date of the competition announcement.
• Personal data protection: Applicants must provide written consent to the processing of personal data in accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On Personal Data Protection". The provided data are included in the database of the State Agency for Arts.
• Winner's data transfer: In case of awarding the Prize, the winner's personal data are transferred to the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine for the purpose of assigning the title of laureate, payment of the cash reward, and subsequent storage.
• Consequences of non-compliance: In case of non-compliance of the submitted documents with the established requirements or their submission after the deadline, such documents are not subject to consideration and are returned to the submitting entity indicating the reason for the return.