The President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, today presented the proposal to create the Vitorino Nemésio Literary Prize, an initiative that “aims to pay tribute to this Azorean poet and writer, perpetuating his name in time and with it elevating the culture of our Region.”

“This prize also aims to contribute to understanding the importance of Azoreanity in Portuguese culture and to encourage literary creation, while at the same time fostering a taste for reading and writing,” said the Speaker of the House during his hearing at the Legislative Assembly’s Social Affairs Committee, held this morning via internet.

On the occasion, the President of the Azorean Parliament stressed that “this initiative, which is expected to start as early as 2025, follows an approach that has been followed by the various Presidencies of the Legislative Assembly and consolidated in this one of investment in the cultural sector”, mentioning by way of example the inauguration of the Parliament Museum and the Álvaro Monjardino Library, “two examples of the enhancement of our cultural and historical heritage.”

The prize will be awarded annually. The winner will receive 2,500.00 euros, treated as intellectual property income, and the publication of up to 300 copies of the work. The winning author will also be entitled to 10% of the royalties from the book’s publication.

It should be remembered that Motion for a Resolution no. 4/XIII – “Vitorino Nemésio Literary Prize” had already been reported in the previous Legislature but ended up not being presented in the plenary session following the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

Translated by Diniz Borges-PBBI, Fresno State.