The first edition of "Daniel de Sá" Humanities Award has received 24 applications, announced the Regional Directorate for Culture today. The award was created by the Government of the Azores to pay tribute to Azorean writer and thinker who passed away in 2013.

This initiative aims to distinguish, every two years (even years), an original work written in Portuguese under the ‘Azores’ theme by a national or foreign author. This prize is divided into the categories of Literature, Linguistics, History, Philosophy, Sociology and Anthropology.

The deadline for the submission of the works under this award ended on March 2 - the date that marks the birth of Daniel de Sá. The works will now be assessed by a jury composed by five members of recognised merit in the areas in competition.

The members of this jury are as follows: Carlos Reis, University of Coimbra; Avelino Meneses and Rui Sousa Martins, University of the Azores; João Saramago, researcher at the Centre of Linguistics of the University of Lisbon and writer João de Melo.

According to information provided by the Regional Directorate for Culture, the rules on the award may be amended as a "result of the suggestions deemed appropriate."

In this context, the Regional Directorate will propose the elimination of the 'Azores' theme as well as the suppression on the limit of pages in order prevent any constrain that might hinder the process of creation," stated the Regional Directorate.