Jakob Gogebashvili Children’s and Youth Literary Award, Winners Recognized

The award ceremony for the competition winners, “Jakob Gogebashvili Children’s and Youth Literary Award,” was held in the Kote Marjanishvili State Dramatic Theater. 

The Georgian Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Thea Tsulukiani, attended the event. 

The award ceremony was musically decorated by children and young people – pupils of Ozurgeti Salotbaro School, boys’ group “Mdzlevarma” and Anzor Erkomaishvili’s Georgian folk song ensemble “Martve”.

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia and organized by NGO “Creative Georgia”, the Jakob Gogebashvili Children’s and Youth Literary Award competition was announced on March 14, 2023.

The competition aims to promote the development of children’s literature, support the publishing sector, develop literary processes, popularize Georgian authors, and discover talented new authors.

Those wishing to participate in the competition had the opportunity to submit poetic and prose works published in 2022 from March 14, 2023, to April 28, 2023, at 18:00 to April 28, 2023, to offer to the competition poetic and prosthetic works (“Best Children’s Dramaturgy”) and projects (“Children’s and Youth Innovation Project”) published in the year 2022.

Fifty-three authors and publishers participated in the competition. Writer Guram Petriashvili headed the jury.

The winners of the nominations have been announced:

• The best poetry collection – Vano Chkhikvadze, “Mirror Bird” (publishing “Elf”)
• The best prose collection for the youngest (3-6 years) – Irma Malatsidze, “Little Bobo’s Story” (publishing “I will get to know”)
• The best prose collection for kids (7-12 years) – Tinatin Chezhia, “Children’s stories”, Murad Mtvarelidze, “Modern Prince” (publishing “Shemezneba”)
• The best illustrated book for the youngest (3-6 years) – “Rules of being well”, artist Mariam Papuashvili (publisher “Palitra L”)
• The best illustrated book for kids (7-12 years) – “Children’s stories”, artist Tamar Mamukelashvili; “How much does it cost to travel to the sun”, artist Lela Tsinadze (publishing “Elf”)
• The best children’s play – Eduard Ugulava, youth play “Dudana”
• The best debut – Katie Kvitatiani, “Meggie Porpins and other stories” (publishing “Elf”)
• The best translated children/youth book – Lucy Mod Motomer, “Language from the Green Mezzonines”, translator Ia Koroshinadze (publishing “Books in Batumi”)
• Innovative project for children and youth – Tamar Adam, “Funny lines” (publishing “Elf”)
• The prize for the achievement in children’s literature was given to Mariam Tsiklauri (executive publisher “Pegas”)

Fifty applicants applied to “Creative Georgia” to participate in the competition in 2022, and 37 applicants applied.

With the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia and NGO “Creative Georgia“, the literary contest for winning the Children and Youth Literary Award named after Jacob Gogebashvili was held for the third time this year.

The competition has been running successfully, and its interest is growing gradually.