Kentavrida Program

The Kentavrida program is designed to develop an awareness of children and youth about the myths, legends, history and geography of Ukraine and Tavria, historical and mythical figures, whose images can nurture in new generations understanding of the values ​​of life, love for Earth, nature, humanity and self-development.

Kentavrida is a program that implements an annual grant competition for writers, including beginners, who want to create works of art for children and adolescents, based on historical and mythological data about the territory and inhabitants of the Tavria region of Ukraine. The narrative of the work may not be limited to the territory of Tavria - the southern regions of Ukraine and the Crimean peninsula.

The winners' works will be published in the Kentaurida collection. A part of the print run will be sent to the authors of the works, partly distributed free of charge to libraries in Ukraine, and partly sold on the The It`s Craft website. The proceeds from the book sales will be returned to the charity fund for the creation of books by competition.

In 2025, the competition is held for works on the theme of Trypillian culture.

All authors may apply to the "Kentavrida" competition, including beginners who have never written fiction, as well as experienced writers with previous publications. There are no restrictions regarding age, nationality, or country of residence.

• Expenses for design, layout, and printing of the minimum print run of the literary work.
• Partial or full coverage of illustration services for the publication.

The cost of publishing services and illustrator work is determined by a tender. The print run depends on the total cost of the approved services.

Ineligible expenses within the grant application:

• Expenses for writing the work and related costs.
• Editor and proofreader services.
• Salaries and fees for consultants.
• Research expenses.
• Travel and airfare expenses.
• Translation services.
• Expenses for publishing previously released works.
• Costs for activities not related to the purpose of the competition.
• Other expenses deemed inappropriate by the grant committee within the framework of the competition.

• All authors may apply to the "Kentavrida" competition, including beginners who have never written fiction, as well as experienced writers with previous publications. There are no restrictions regarding age, nationality, or country of residence.
• Only works that have never been published before may be submitted to the competition! Additionally, they must be created without the use of artificial intelligence!
• There are no creative limitations; prose and poetry of both short and long forms are accepted: novellas, essays, short stories, novels.
• The "Kentavrida" program is permanent, with an annual competition!

• At the first stage, applicants submit their proposals in the form of a logline and a synopsis of the work. The competition committee selects the proposals that proceed to the second stage of selection.
• At the second stage, the applicant submits the full work and suggestions regarding the design of the work (if any).
• Applications for the first stage may be submitted throughout the year. You will receive a response regarding advancement to the second stage within three weeks after submitting the application.
• The selection of the winner under the competition rules takes place within 1–2 months, depending on the number of applicants and the volume of their works. All participants will receive a response regarding the results at the email address provided in the application form.

The preservation of intellectual property rights and the non-disclosure of personal data to third parties are guaranteed.

To participate in the competition, you must complete three steps.

1. Fill out the application form with your information at the link: https://forms.gle/6SRNNRpmjdQYtWFu7.
2. Submit the essence of the work (a logline*) and a synopsis** (a structured description of the work) in Ukrainian. Send the documents to kentavrida@gmail.com. In the subject line, indicate: "Application for the "Kentavrida" Competition 2024".
3. After receiving confirmation that the theme and concept of the work are suitable, you must submit the full work for the committee’s review.

* If only the form is filled out but the synopsis and logline are not provided, the application will not be accepted.

** If only the synopsis and logline are submitted, but the full work is not provided for the committee’s review, it is not possible to become a winner of the competition.

• *Logline — a brief summary of the work (book, film, program) that reveals the main conflict of the story, a short plot description, and the emotional “hook” that draws the audience’s attention. A logline may be a single sentence of up to 25 words. It indicates the time, place, and circumstances of the events, names the protagonist and antagonist, presents the inciting incident that triggers the development of the story, the conflict (moral dimension), and the purpose of the work.
• **Synopsis — a short linear outline of the concept of the artistic work, its content, the essence of the conflict, and the dramatic situation in an engaging form. A synopsis includes the setup, turning points, climax, and resolution. It answers the following questions: what the story is about, who the main characters are, what they strive for and why, and what obstacles stand in their way. A synopsis does not retell the entire story but only sparks interest in reading it fully. For better understanding and preparing a synopsis, we recommend studying the three-act structure of storytelling.

The application must be complete:

• at the first stage of selection, you must fill out the form and submit two documents — the logline and synopsis — throughout the year,
• at the second stage of selection, you must provide the complete finished work — by May 12 each year.

You may refer to any stories, myths, and legends of the world and use archives, while also respecting copyright. If plagiarism is detected, the application will be excluded from the competition.

The aim of the program is that the works will be read by children and teenagers, so the story should be educational and evoke positive emotions.

The criteria for evaluating the works will be based not on their form, but on their content:

• The work is created on the basis of legends and the history of Ukraine.
• How interesting, engaging, and original the work is.
• How stylistically strong and artistically complete the work is.
• How commercially attractive the work may be.
• How well the work helps the reader understand Ukrainian roots.

Announcement of selection results: the period for selecting winners depends on the number and volume of entries submitted and may vary from 1 to 3 months.