Gavin Bradley wins the 2023 Bridges of Struga International Poetry Award

Gavin Bradley, author of Separation Anxiety (University of Alberta Press), is the winner of the 2023 Bridges of Struga International Poetry Award. This prestigious award is for a debut book of poetry by a young writer.

The announcement was made at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, on March 21 in the presence of the General Director of UNESCO, The President of North Macedonia, The Minister of Culture of North Macedonia, and members of The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

“Gavin Bradley has been a welcome member of the close-knit Edmonton and Canadian writing communities since his arrival from Belfast twelve years ago. He is an outstanding poet and we are proud to have published his work, Separation Anxiety, in our Robert Kroetsch Series,” said UAlberta Press Director Douglas Hildebrand. “We are excited to be the first publisher in North America to have an author recognized by the award organizers.”

Gavin Bradley said, “I was delighted and gobsmacked to hear I was the winner of this historic award. Edmonton has become a second home for me since I moved here, and to have the book published by a renowned Edmonton publisher was already such a huge honour for me; this award is the icing on the cake and a testament to the hard work of everyone at University of Alberta Press. While the Irish have a long tradition of poetry, with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement just around the corner, I am grateful for how many more doors have been opened to artists of my generation and future generations because of the peace treaty. Long may it continue.”