Winners and judges out of pocket as £20,000 writing awards appear to have closed
Summary
A writing competition called the Plaza Prizes, which offered £20,000 in awards, appears to have shut down without paying judges and winners. Some winners were disqualified for alleged use of AI in their work, which they deny, while at least two judges, including Booker Prize winner Damon Galgut, say they were not paid for their judging.Key Facts
- The Plaza Prizes started in 2022 and promised a total prize fund of £20,000.
- Judges included well-known writers like Damon Galgut and Anthony Joseph.
- Galgut and Joseph claim they were not paid for judging the 2025 competition.
- Some winners were disqualified for suspected AI use in their entries, but they deny using AI.
- The competition’s founder, Simon Kerr, had previously run another award with payment complaints.
- Kerr responded to payment requests by questioning invoicing methods and threatened legal action for defamation.
- The Plaza Prizes website and award ceremony have been delayed or are currently inaccessible.
- Kerr said he used grants and money from selling his house to fund the prizes after losing his job during the pandemic.
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