Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 Gutekunst Prize of the Friends of Goethe. This is the prize formerly known as just the “Gutekunst Prize,” but as of 2017 its funding has been taken over by the Friends of Goethe NY. This competition invites young translators (defined as under 35 and unpublished in book form) to submit translations of a single text of approx. 22 pages provided by the organizers. The prize comes with a $2500 purse and professional recognition that is sure to come in handy for a prizewinner interested in making a career in literary translation. To enter the competition, request a sample from Walter Schlect of the Goethe-Institut New York library. This year’s submission deadline is March 16, 2018. There’s no point playing if you’re not playing to win, so request the sample text right away so you can start working on your translation with plenty of time for revisions.
For more information about the prize and application guidelines, see the Gutekunst Prize page on the Goethe-Institut New York website.