Australia’s Indigenous Literacy Foundation is the 2024 recipient of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for children’s literature – a global award given annually to a person or organisation for their outstanding contribution to children’s and young adult literature.
With a prize of five million Swedish kronor (AUD $725,000) it is the largest award of its kind in the world.
Boel Westin, chair of the jury for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award said, ‘The importance of all people’s own languages and stories is the foundation for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s shining work among First Nations peoples in Australia. Their innovative activities, which build on respect, collaboration and sensitivity, are an inspiration for reading promotion work around the world.’
The announcement was made in a live program from Stockholm and at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair on Tuesday 9 April. The winner was announced from 245 candidates from 68 countries and regions.
Author Sonya Hartnett (2008) and writer and artist Shaun Tan (2011) are the previous Australian winners of the prize.
Deeply honoured
ILF CEO Ben Bowen said, ‘Thank you to the ALMA Jury, we are deeply honoured to receive this award. The achievement of being shortlisted let alone being the winner of such a globally prestigious award speaks directly to the nature of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) being a Community-led organisation entrusted to support remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community literacy aspirations.
‘Throughout the lifetime of the ILF, we have had the privilege of being invited into Community and entrusted to support their aspirations through providing culturally relevant books and literacy resources and publishing their stories in the language they choose,’ he said.
‘This is not possible without the support of our donors, supporters, volunteers, Ambassadors and Community partners that enable an organisation of around 30 staff to support literacy in over 400 remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
‘This award is a direct acknowledgement to Communities we partner with, corporate partners and supporters, donors, Ambassadors, our Board and volunteers that have all played a critical role in building the ILF. Thank you and congratulations.’
Extraordinary work
ILF Head of Publishing Nicola Robinson said, ‘This award could not have come about without the extraordinary work of many of Australia’s remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, who trust the ILF with the stories they choose to tell, told in multiple languages and illustrated in Community.
‘It would also never have come about without the generosity of the many, many thousands of Australians who have contributed to the ILF over the years. I am thinking of the many “ordinary” people who make small monthly donations, or organise fundraising events in their community groups or workplaces,’ she said.
‘I am thinking of the many, many people within my own industry – the book industry – who collect over the counter donations in bookshops, hold Great Book Swaps or bake sales, attend our Trivia nights, collaborate on our projects, and assist in so many other ways.
‘This award reflects the work of a great many people, who should all feel proud today.’
The prize funds will be used to support the ongoing ambition of the ILF to support Community literacy aspiration through publishing and providing culturally relevant books and resources.
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