Considered one of the main innovators of Basque literature in the 21st century, he is a clear ambassador of the Basque language and Basque culture internationally.
Eusko Ikaskuntza and LABORAL Kutxa announced the decision of the Eusko Ikaskuntza-LABORAL Kutxa Award for Humanities, Culture, Arts and Social Sciences 2023. The award jury made up of representatives of Musikene and the seven universities in the geographic area of Eusko Ikaskuntza, Together with representatives of Eusko Ikaskuntza and LABORAL Kutxa, he awarded the award for the most outstanding curriculum in the aforementioned disciplines to Kirmen Uribe.
With his brilliant creative work, of significant international projection, Kirmen Uribe has won the award for the most outstanding resume. He stands out as one of the main ambassadors of the Basque language and Basque culture and is a for the generation of the 70s. In the opinion of the Jury: "His work and personality embody the diplomacy that manages to spread our language, values and ways of life beyond our borders. And he does it from the humility, naturalness and creative independence of a writer capable of combining the most intimate dimension with the existentialist reflection about our presence as a cultural community before the world". In his work, of a humanist and open nature, global and ethical awareness, pacifism, critical sense and commitment to dialogue between different people are felt. In addition, the jury wanted to highlight his way of writing from our roots and the way in which he provides his own and updated vision of the world that surrounds us. It is worth noting his work in favor of coexistence and equality.
Considered one of the main innovators of Basque literature in the 21st century, his works have been translated into twenty languages. His recognition reaches countries like China or Japan where his novels have been selected among the best of the year. Around 500 university studies speak of his work. He has also cultivated other genres such as poetry, essays, children's and youth literature, and even music and plastic arts.
He currently resides in the United States where he has been teaching at universities for years, while offering recitals and publishing in international literary magazines such as The New Yorker or The Paris Review . Selected for the Iowa International Writers Program (IWP) in 2017, in 2018 he was awarded the prestigious Cullman Writing Fellowship from the New York Public Library.
He has received numerous awards; among others: Critics Award, three times (2002, 2009, 2016), National Literature Award (2009), Academy Award 111 (2016). The English version of his collection of poems, Bitartean heldu eskutik , was a finalist for the award for the best translation of poetry published in the United States in 2007.
Awardees
Eusko Ikaskuntza-LABORAL Kutxa Gazte saria Award
Likewise, the winner of the Eusko Ikaskuntza-LABORAL Kutxa Gazte Saria Award was announced, which this year went to the alav s Beñat Garaio Mendizabal, with his research project “Kia ora, takatāpui: māoriera eta euskararen biziberritze prozesuak elkarlotzen”. The sociolinguistic study presented will allow a comparative analysis of the Basque and Maori language revitalization processes in New Zealand. The prize is endowed with 6,000 euros.
Awarded projects
(Automatic translation via Google Translation)
