Acting in accordance with Elsa Geiger Ariè’s bequest commemorating her father, the Fondazione Giorgio Cini has set up the Benno Geiger Poetry Translation Prize, to be awarded for an Italian translation of a
work of poetry from an ancient, mediaeval or modern Western language published in the previous year. The annual prize thus honours Benno Geiger (1882-1965), an Austrian writer and art critic who published important works on the history of art as well as his own poetry. He also made some excellent German translations of Italian verse classics.

Geiger’s fascinating letters on literary and artistic matters with early 20th-century Italian and European correspondents are now in the Literary Archives of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini. Chaired by Francesco Zambon, the Prize Jury – made up of Shaul Bassi, Franco Buffoni, Fabrizio Cambi and Piero Taravacci – will meet in September to choose the winner for the 2014 edition.

The winner’s name will be announced on the completion of the proceedings, while the prize-giving ceremony will be held on 11 October 2014.