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The Kavya Prize
The Kavya Prize, an award that supports emerging writers of colour, is now open for applications
We’re delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with the Kavya Prize, which will run in tandem with our New Writers Awards programme.
Writers will have the opportunity to opt in to being considered for the Kavya Prize when completing a New Writers Award application form. The Kavya Prize, in partnership with the New Writers Awards, supports an emerging writer of colour.
The Kavya Prize is now open for applications. All you need to do is select the New Writers awards category you plan to apply for and then opt into being considered for the Kavya Prize when the option is offered.
Applications are welcome until the deadline: 12pm on 24 September 2025
About the Kavya Prize
Founded in 2022 by the late Indian-born Scottish author Leela Soma(this link will open in a new window), the prize, in association with the Creative Writing Programme at the University of Glasgow, seeks to recognise and encourage writers of colour. The prize is a legacy of Soma’s passionate advocacy and support of writers of colour.
Kavya is a popular and well-recognised word in Sanskrit and refers to a literary style or a completed body of literature that was used in Indian courts of the Maharajahs who nurtured the cultural arts in India.
'This is a fantastic development for the Kavya Prize, and one that honours the vision that the award's founder, Leela Soma, had to inspire and support new writers of colour. The Creative Writing programme at the University of Glasgow is thrilled to be working in partnership with colleagues at Scottish Book Trust and we look forward to reading the talented new voices that will emerge.'
– Zoe Strachan, University of Glasgow
Awardees receive:
- £2,500 cash award, allowing them to focus on their work (the bursary will be paid in two instalments)
- Tailored personal development opportunities, which can include mentoring from writers and industry professionals
- PR, performance, social media and presentation training
- The opportunity to showcase work to publishers and agents
- A week-long retreat offering time, space and the freedom to create new work in idyllic surroundings (subject to circumstances)
- A year's free membership to Society of Authors as well as an SoA training session
- All mentoring, training and performances include an option for remote attendance as needed. We're very happy to discuss anyone's individual access requirements prior to applying
A panel of judges (to be announced soon) will select a shortlist and an awardee for the Kavya Prize.
The award is open to poets, novelists, short story writers, spoken word artists, authors of narrative non-fiction and children's and Young Adult authors.
Entries are invited in English, Scots (and a combination of both) and Gaelic.
Previous awardees
The Kavya Prize has celebrated both published work and new writing. Previous winners for published work include Arun Sood, author of New Skin for the Old Ceremony (404 Ink) and Uma Nada-Rajah, playwright of Toy Plastic Chicken (A Play and a Pint). In 2023, the prize was awarded to emerging writers Q Manivannan and Jinling Wu.
'Winning the Kavya Prize in 2023 was a deeply affirming moment for me as a writer. It not only validated the emotional truth of my work, but also gave me the confidence to keep exploring and experimenting with my voice. I’m grateful for the platform it provides emerging writers, and I hope it continues to inspire many others to share their stories.'
– Jinling Wu, Kavya Prize Winner 2023
