Building a Global Cultural Community: The World Award Committee and the International Vision of The Noble Laureate Award
Building a Global Cultural Community: The World Award Committee and the International Vision of The Noble Laureate Award
Across history, literature and the arts have served as bridges between cultures, preserving humanity's shared values while celebrating the unique identities of nations. In an increasingly interconnected world, international cultural initiatives play an important role in encouraging dialogue, recognising artistic excellence, and fostering mutual respect among people of different languages and traditions. Among the emerging global initiatives dedicated to this mission is the World Award Committee (WAC), the international governing body responsible for overseeing The Noble Laureate Award.
Founded as part of the Noble Laureate Award initiative by internationally respected literary figure Zlatan Demirovic and chaired by Shikdar Mohammed Kibriah, President of the World Award Committee, WAC has embarked on an ambitious mission to create an international platform that honours outstanding achievements in literature and the visual arts. Rather than concentrating decision-making within a single international jury, the organisation has established a worldwide network of National Award Committees (NACs), enabling every participating nation to evaluate its own candidates through respected local experts while operating within internationally shared standards of integrity, transparency, and professionalism.
Respecting Cultural Diversity Through National Representation
This organisational structure reflects a profound respect for cultural diversity. Every country possesses its own literary traditions, artistic heritage, historical experiences, and creative voices. The World Award Committee recognises that these traditions are best represented by scholars, writers, poets, critics, artists, educators, translators, and cultural leaders who understand their own national context while contributing to a broader international dialogue.
The formation of National Award Committees has become one of the defining achievements of the World Award Committee. Official guidelines recommend that every committee consist of a President appointed by the World Award Committee, a Secretary, specialists in poetry and prose, and a specialist in visual arts. At the same time, flexibility remains an essential principle. Committee Presidents are encouraged to appoint additional experts whenever this strengthens professional competence or better reflects the cultural and academic landscape of their countries.
The emphasis is never placed on hierarchy alone. One of the most significant official statements issued by the World Award Committee clearly explains that while the President serves as the principal representative of a National Award Committee, leadership should never be understood as authority over independent experts. Every committee member carries equal responsibility, equal dignity, equal professional independence, and an equal voice during deliberations. The President's role is to coordinate discussion, encourage participation, harmonise differing perspectives, and faithfully represent the committee's collective decision during international deliberations.
This philosophy creates committees built upon cooperation rather than control. The World Award Committee repeatedly describes its National Award Committees as living communities of scholars rather than merely administrative panels. Open dialogue, mutual respect, intellectual independence, and shared responsibility form the ethical foundation upon which every committee is expected to operate.
A Growing International Network
The international growth of the organisation demonstrates the appeal of this vision.
Hungary established a distinguished National Award Committee under the presidency of Balázs F. Attila, bringing together leading literary and artistic figures including István Turczi, President of Hungarian PEN, alongside specialists in prose, essays, and visual arts. The committee reflects Hungary's rich literary heritage and its continuing contribution to European culture.
Italy has formed one of the most distinguished committees within the network under the leadership of Maria Teresa Infante La Marca. Its members include accomplished poets, writers, journalists, publishers, academics, art critics, painters, and cultural organisers representing different regions of Italy. Their collective experience reflects Italy's centuries-long influence on world literature, philosophy, fine arts, and intellectual life.
New Zealand appointed Dr. Christine Chen as President of its National Award Committee, assembling respected specialists in literature and visual arts whose expertise represents the country's growing reputation for creativity, innovation, and international cultural engagement.
Albania and Kosovo established a committee bringing together philosophers, teachers, novelists, poets, playwrights, translators, critics, and visual artists. The committee reflects the rich literary traditions of the region while embracing contemporary artistic voices.
Pakistan successfully constituted its National Award Committee under the presidency of Dr. Sajid Hussain, following the organisational framework recommended by the World Award Committee.
Azerbaijan has simultaneously demonstrated another dimension of the initiative through public engagement, with committee president Academician Eldar Akhadov promoting the award through national television and widespread media coverage while assembling an accomplished team of specialists.
Australia also plays an important role within this growing international network. The Australian National Award Committee is led by Kuma Raj Subedi, appointed as National Award Committee President for Australia. Supporting the committee are internationally respected cultural figures, including distinguished poet and philosopher Prof. Dr. Bajram Redžepagić and Australian Vietnamese poet, translator, educator, and cultural advocate Võ Thị Như Mai, who serves as a member of the National Award Committee. Their participation reflects Australia's multicultural literary landscape and its commitment to strengthening international cooperation through literature, translation, and the visual arts.
These committees represent only a portion of an expanding international family that continues to welcome new countries into the initiative. Each National Award Committee reflects the cultural identity of its own nation while contributing to a shared international vision founded upon artistic excellence, professional integrity, and mutual respect.
Transparency and Institutional Development
Beyond organisational growth, the World Award Committee has placed considerable emphasis on transparency and consistency.
Recognising that an international award system requires clear communication, WAC introduced the first official edition of The Noble Laureate Award Guidebook. Designed as the principal reference for committee members, candidates, partner organisations, media representatives, and the public, the Guidebook explains every major aspect of the award process, including organisational structure, eligibility requirements, evaluation procedures, voting principles, submission guidelines, and final selection processes.
Importantly, the Guidebook is presented as a living document that will continue evolving as the international network expands. New editions will incorporate official clarifications, practical experience, procedural improvements, and answers to frequently asked questions, ensuring that every participating country operates according to consistent international standards.
Supporting this objective is the establishment of the World Award Committee Question and Answer Box, an organised communication system through which National Award Committee Presidents collect questions from candidates and committee members before submitting them to WAC. Rather than answering identical questions repeatedly through private correspondence, official responses are consolidated and incorporated into future editions of the Guidebook. This process strengthens institutional transparency while building a shared body of knowledge accessible to the entire international community.
International Collaboration
The World Award Committee also encourages broader international cooperation beyond its own committees. Official communications invite partnerships with universities, academies, publishers, literary associations, cultural institutions, museums, galleries, media organisations, sponsors, and educational bodies. Such collaboration is viewed as essential for strengthening cultural exchange, expanding public engagement, and enhancing the credibility of the international award.
The Noble Laureate Award itself recognises excellence in three principal categories:
- Poetry
- Prose
- Visual Arts
Candidates are invited to submit professional artistic curricula vitae, representative creative achievements, critical reviews, and supporting documentation demonstrating their cultural contributions. National Award Committees evaluate submissions within their respective countries before forwarding selected winners for international consideration.
A Philosophy of Service
Throughout every official statement issued by the World Award Committee, one theme consistently emerges above all others: service.
Leadership is presented as responsibility rather than privilege.
Professional expertise is balanced by ethical integrity.
Competition is accompanied by cooperation.
National pride exists alongside international friendship.
The organisation repeatedly speaks of building not merely committees but communities of trust, wisdom, dialogue, and shared purpose. Its vision extends beyond recognising individual achievement to creating lasting relationships among writers, artists, scholars, educators, translators, and cultural institutions throughout the world.
Such aspirations reflect an understanding that literature and the arts possess the unique ability to transcend political boundaries, linguistic differences, and geographical distances. Every poem, novel, painting, translation, and artistic creation contributes to humanity's collective cultural heritage.
Looking Ahead
As additional National Award Committees continue to be established across continents, the World Award Committee is steadily developing into a truly international cultural network. By combining national expertise with shared global standards, encouraging transparency, respecting professional independence, and celebrating cultural diversity, the organisation seeks to build an enduring platform dedicated to artistic excellence and intercultural understanding.
Although still in its formative years, the World Award Committee has already demonstrated remarkable international momentum. Its expanding network of respected scholars, writers, poets, artists, academics, critics, translators, and cultural leaders illustrates a collective belief that excellence in literature and the visual arts deserves recognition beyond national borders.
The World Award Committee offers a model founded upon cooperation rather than competition, respect rather than division, and excellence guided by integrity. As its international family continues to grow, it has the potential to become a significant platform for celebrating creativity, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening friendships among nations through the universal language of literature and the arts.
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