Announcing 2009 Critic of the Year

Congratulations Alison Croggon ! (click here for biog)

Poet and author Alison Croggon has been awarded

the $15,000 Pascall Prize for critical writing.

The award recognises her body of work as a theatre critic

in Melbourne for The Australian and theatre blog Theatre Notes.

(click here for details)

 
Introduction
 
Music & Opera Singers Trust (MOST) manages and co-ordinates The Geraldine Pascall Foundation. The Foundation offers the only major national prize awarded for critical writing / reviewing in Australia. The Pascall Prize is awarded each year to a critic whose work over the previous 12-15 months has contributed significantly to public appreciation, enjoyment and understanding of the area or areas of the arts in which he or she is involved. A Director of the Foundation convenes the judging panel which includes industry peers and previous winners. The winner of the Pascall Prize is named as the ‘Critic of the Year’ and awarded $15,000 at an elegant presentation in Sydney.
 
Overview
Geraldine Pascall was a flamboyant journalist who died suddenly of a stroke in 1983 at the age of 38.  With the proceeds of her estate it was decided to establish a memorial prize. The Pascall Prize was originally conceived as a biennial literary award for creative writers who have made original and distinctive contributions to Australia's cultural life. However, from 1990, The Pascall Prize was to be awarded annually to a critic or reviewer who wrote regularly for a newspaper or periodical published in Australia, or broadcast regularly on radio or television in Australia. 
 
The Prize was to either mark a lifetime contribution or encourage a brilliant younger writer. It was felt that this change of focus better reflected the work and the personal interests of the late Geraldine Pascall. The Trustees intended that, each year, the Pascall Prize would be awarded to a critical writer working regularly in one of the following areas:
  • books
  • art, including design and architecture
  • food and/or wine
  • music & music theatre/dance and drama
  • film, television and radio
Only sport was specifically excluded. In 1996, the Trustees resolved to award The Pascall Prize to a critic or reviewer whose body of work has contributed significantly to the area of the arts in which he or she is involved and not for a specific category.
 
Now, the Pascall Prize aims to identify and reward a writer or critic whose work has:
 
  • The ability to stimulate interest in the subject
  • The ability to expand knowledge about the subject
  • The ability to arouse debate
  • The ability to be a vital, engaging voice in the culture through the expression of strongly held opinion based firmly in deep knowledge and understanding of the subject
  • Intrinsic merit as pieces of writing or broadcasting
 
Directors of the Trustee, Geraldine Pascall Pty Ltd
 
Rowena Danziger AM
Bruce Elder
Warren Fahey AM
Rea Francis
Patrick Gallagher AM
Roland Gridiger - Chairman
Susan Wyndham
 
Solicitors to the Foundation/Corporate Trustee
 
Roland E Gridiger, Gridiger Lawyers   
Level 4, 67 Castlereagh Street          
Sydney  NSW  2000
T:  (02) 9231 4888
F: (02) 9221 8201
E: asc@mostlyopera.org.au
 
Tax Deductibility
 
Donations to the Geraldine Pascall Foundation are tax deductible.

 

 
 
 
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