On Wednesday 19th October 2016, The Orwell Prize announced that it will now be based at The Institute of Advanced Studies at UCL, home to the Orwell Archive. The announcement marks the start of an exciting new era for the Orwell Prize.
The Orwell Prize is now based at the Institute of Advanced Studies, UCL. UCL is home to the Orwell Archive, the most comprehensive body of research material relating to George Orwell anywhere. The Orwell Prize expects to be able to develop Orwell scholarship and cultural and political engagement in the sympathetic and stimulating environment of the IAS, which is committed to critical thinking across conventional boundaries.
At the first of the Orwell Prize's events at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival 2009, Philip Hensher and Jenny Hartley (for Dickens) and Jean Seaton and Hardeep Singh Kohli (Orwell) argue over who was the greater writer. Chaired by Francine Stock. The event celebrates the 70th anniversary of Orwell's essay on Dickens, http://www.theorwellprize.co.uk/the-award/works/orwelless.... The discussion was held on 30th March 2009.
A discussion marking the announcement of the shortlists for the Orwell Prize 2008, at Reuters, Canary Wharf, London on 26th March 2008. The panellists were Jean Seaton, Denis MacShane MP, Will Hutton, Greg Clark MP, Matthew Parris and Peter Hitchens, chaired by Sean Maguire.
At the third of the Orwell Prize's events at the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival 2009, Richard Dowden (Director, Royal African Society), Stephen Marks (Fahamu), Shirong Chen (China Editor, BBC World Service), Lindsey Hilsum (International Editor, Channel 4 News) and Winston Mano (University of Westminster) discuss the Chinese influence in Africa. Chaired by Dr Suzanne Franks (Centre for Journalism, University of Kent). The discussion took place on 1st April 2009.