hubert butler essay prize 2023

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Hubert Butler Essay Prize 2022

Kilkenny Arts Festival has long paid tribute to the memory of Kilkenny native Hubert Butler - one of Ireland's most respected essayists - with the annual Hubert Butler Lecture occupying one of the keystone places in the Festival Programme. This year, Kilkenny Arts Festival are delighted to be able to host both the Hubert Butler Lecture, and the Hubert Butler Essay Prize as part of the 2022 Festival Programme.

Founded by Jeremy O'Sullivan in 2018, the Hubert Butler Essay Prize encourages the art of essay-writing across Europe. The prize is designed to reflect Hubert Butler’s interest in the common ground between the European nation states that emerged after the First World War; his concern with the position of religious and ethnic minorities; his life and writings as an encapsulation of the mantra ‘Think globally, act locally’; the importance of the individual conscience and his work with refugees.

The title for this year’s essay is:

“ In dark times, what can be done to resist the abuse of political power? ”

Professor Roy Foster, chair of the judges, writes: ‘In 2022 of all years, the question of resistance to the abuse of political power, east and west, hangs over us as it did in the 1930s, when Butler lived through the downward spiral of events in central and eastern Europe, inspiring some of his most searingly perceptive commentary. 2022 is already being pinpointed as a turning point in history; Butler’s example shows how the essay form is uniquely well adapted for capturing the essence and significance of convulsive events, even as they happen around us, and the importance of the individual dissenting voice.' Festival director Olga Barry writes: ‘Following our partnership with HEART, London in 2020 Kilkenny Arts Festival was honoured to become the ‘home’ of the Hubert Butler Essay Prize from 2021, and we are delighted to be cementing the Prize's position as an integral part of our Programme alongside the Hubert Butler Lecture, by hosting it in person during the Festival this coming August. We are grateful to Hubert Butler’s family, Julia and Dick Crampton, Jeremy O’Sullivan and the prize panel, chaired by Roy Foster, for their support in securing the future of the prize. This prize is an affirmation of Hubert Butler’s life and work - his legacy continues to grow and inspire others. His clarity of purpose and commitment to the principals of universal humanity is as urgent now as ever. There could be no better way of honouring him in his home city than supporting a new generation of essayists at a time when the intrinsic links between the personal, local and global couldn’t be more apparent.’ Entries will be judged by Catriona Crowe, Roy Foster (Chair), Nicholas Grene, Eva Hoffman and Barbara Schwepcke. The first prize will be €1,500, with two second prizes of €500 each. Submissions are now open and the closing date is 10 June 2022. The prize giving ceremony will be held in Kilkenny in August 2022. For terms and conditions and to apply please visit hubertbutleressayprize.com Kilkenny Arts Festival became the permanent home of the Prize in 2021, when the visual artist Alison Williams was awarded the prize for her essay 'During the Plague, I came into my own' . Hubert Butler was born in Kilkenny in 1900, and he travelled extensively throughout Europe during his life. With his wife, Peggy, he founded the Kilkenny Lectures to encourage dialogue between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic, and he found international recognition in his eighties for his essay collections Escape from the Anthill , The Children of Drancy , and Grandmother and Wolfe Tone .

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The Hubert Butler Essay Prize 2023

Sunday 13th August 2023 Location: Parade Kilkenny. Organised by HEART London, the Hubert Butler Essay Prize encourages the art of essay-writing across Europe. Join us in the Parade Tower to discover the winners of this year’s competition, who responded to the question: ‘How far can we trust science?’ Organisers Website

To keep up-to-date with all events, download "The Kilkenny App"

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Hubert Butler Essay Prize: what happened to Europe without frontiers?

Foster, Roy (2018) Hubert Butler Essay Prize: what happened to Europe without frontiers? LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP) blog (24 Nov 2018). Blog Entry.

• http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2018/1...

The great Irish essayist Hubert Butler was a cosmopolitan, his sensibility being both Irish and passionately European. He situated Ireland squarely in the main current of European history, whereas England occupied a kind of eccentric tributary, or even backwater, of its own making. Thus, the vote for Brexit would not have surprised him, writes Roy Foster who judged the inaugural Hubert Butler Essay Prize this year.

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Submitted by Livia Harriman on Fri, 08/10/2021 - 13:58

Nine participants in this year’s RA Butler prize for essays in Politics and International Relations – including the three winners and six of the candidates who received special commendations – attended a prize ceremony hosted at Trinity College Cambridge on 25th September 2021.

The six who attended in person were welcomed by dr glen rangwala, who teaches the politics of the middle east, and two of the prize winners from 2019 – evie morgan and matthew gursky, who are both now students at the university of cambridge., they were joined online by three participants, as well as by dr christopher brooke, who lectures in political theory..

After a lunch for those who were able to attend in person, the nine competition participants joined in a discussion on the theme of how the pandemic is changing politics around the world today.

They each drew upon themes from their essays and their wider preparation.

Saumya Nair (Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Gloucestershire), who won the prize for the best essay and who wrote her essay on whether accountability could be preserved during times of crisis, argued that government transparency was a key issue during periods of crisis. Even if standard conditions of accountability cannot (and may even should not be) held to, issues of transparency had been brought to the fore during the pandemic, but that there was no guarantee that this would continue after the crisis is over. 

Anjali Raman-Middleton (Harris Westminster Sixth Form, London) focused on how extraordinary governmental powers often became normalised even after the period of exceptionality was over, but that this pandemic had shown that public confidence reduced over time, leading to greater questioning of government powers.

Purav Menon (Westminster School, London) drew attention to the role of the mass media in shaping public debate, on how the pandemic provides the opportunity for mass media to become more sensationalist. Noemi Elliott (Phillips Academy, Andover MA, United States) by contrast drew attention to how many populist movements had struggled to provide plausible accounts to most people of how public policy should respond to the pandemic, and lost trust as a result.

Scarlett Clarke (St Mark's Catholic School, London) reflected on the disproportionate socioeconomic effects of the pandemic on those who work in the service sector, who are more likely to be women and from ethnic minorities. Georgia Stewart (Cardinal Newman College, Preston) questioned whether the pandemic made us rethink notions of progress, and particularly on how it had foregrounded issues through social media that had previously been lower political priorities.

The discussion turned from there to international repercussions. Liyana Eliza Glenn (home-schooled, UK), who was one of the joint second prize winners, focused on international leadership during periods of crisis – that is, on how shifts of power and legitimacy could occur during crisis, and that was noticeable in the pandemic, with the US being slow in adopting a significant international role especially in relation to the distribution of vaccines. This forces us to rethink what we mean when we discuss how ‘globalisation’ was to be understood in today’s world. Justin Chan (Harrow School, London) pointed to how the pandemic showed the limited agency of governments in addressing public health problems, but that the potential for international cooperation and innovation was still there – in particular, the renewed politicisation of many populations showed a high level of engagement with contemporary political issues.

Thanks very much to all those who participated in a thoroughly enjoyable and intellectually stimulating day. 

Find out more about the RA Butler prize here>>

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 10 May 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

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Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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Read Alison Williams’ Hubert Butler Essay Prize 2021 winning entry on Covid-19

‘during the plague i came into my own’ (anthony hecht). who or what benefited from covid-19.

Alison Williams: for so very many of us Covid-19 has brought the paradox of connection through isolation

The Hubert Butler Essay Prize 2021, which encourages the art of essay-writing across Europe, has been awarded to visual artist Alison Williams for her essay “Who or what benefited from Covid-19?”

“Alison Williams addresses the question of who profited from Covid 19 with insight, wit and compassion,” Roy Foster, chair of the judges, said. “ She connects the pandemic’s effects to universal issues of communication, privilege and vulnerability, demonstrating the accomplished essayist’s ability to illuminate large themes by scaling up the everyday – very much in the tradition of Hubert Butler, whom this prize commemorates.”

John Banville, patron of the prize, said: “Alison Williams’s marvellous essay is a worthy winner, one that surely Hubert Butler would have approved. It is warm, witty, unapologetic and – for once the cliche is entirely apposite – life-affirming.”

Sebastian Barry, who will speak at the prizegiving ceremony in Kilkenny today, said: “This essay is moving, deeply engaged, fundamentally heroic, and unashamedly positive. In a time seared by negative and negating information, it lights up some nearly derelict synaptic circuits.”

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Williams said: “Winning the Hubert Butler Essay Prize means so much to me on so many different levels, but two in particular: As a self-defined European Scot, it is a joyful experience to be joined once again with the honourable and ancient lineage of European-ness and European values that Hubert Butler espoused and promoted. Then, to have my writing recognised publicly, in such a prestigious setting, is to know beyond doubt that the work is worth the doing. Words cast spells, and I hope that the words of this essay reach out to others and cast good spells.

“And it is a joyful experience indeed to find myself in such excellent good company. My heartfelt thanks for their imagination and energy in creating and supporting this prize go to the Kilkenny Arts Festival, HEART, and the Essay Prize itself, for giving me the meaty subject matter to work with.”

This is the second year that the prize is being held in Kilkenny and supported by Kilkenny Arts Festival. Festival director Olga Barry said: “Kilkenny Arts Festival is honoured to continue its support of the Hubert Butler Essay Prize. We’re grateful to Jeremy O’Sullivan for his stellar work in establishing this important recognition of essay-writing in Butler’s name. We’re particularly grateful to the judging panel for their time and energy and to Julia and Dick Crampton and their family for their ongoing encouragement and support. We heartily congratulate Alison and the runners up for their fine work. Butler’s legacy is alive throughout the civic and cultural life of Kilkenny and indeed the nation – this prize in his name is an important part of this legacy.”

Williams is a visual artist and ‘late-onset academic’, whose 2013 PhD thesis proposed a visuo-spatial grammar of creative workplaces. Co-editor of BITE: Recipes for remarkable research (2014) and EqualBITE: Gender equality in higher education (2017), she has written and presented extensively on the creative process, and has published in journals as diverse as Regenerative Medicine and Business Innovation and Disruption by Design. She is currently working on Between the mountain and the tree: A journey of wilding women, and growing an international community of wilding women.

In a former life she designed glasswork for Freddie Mercury and Dustin Hoffman, ran an arts centre for amateur painters, and was a consultant in creativity to multinationals.

Hubert Butler was born in Kilkenny in 1900, and he travelled extensively throughout Europe during his life. With his wife, Peggy, he founded the Kilkenny Lectures to encourage dialogue between the people of Northern Ireland and the Republic, and he found international recognition in his eighties for his essay collections Escape from the Anthill, The Children of Drancy and Grandmother and Wolfe Tone.

'During the plague I came into my own' (Anthony Hecht). Who or what benefited from Covid-19? During the pandemic I came into my own.

Pace Dickens, for me it was the best of times; for millions of others it was the worst of times. For hundreds of thousands of others it was the last of times.

It took a long time, and much inner talking-to, to get over the guilt. People would ask “How is lockdown going for you?” with that particular inflection that anticipates, almost requires, the worst. It has taken me over a year to be able to say, being a truthful sort of person, “Thank you, I’ve been having a wonderful lockdown – pretty terrific, actually.” Even so, I still preface it with “I know that it has been horrendous for so very many people….”

In these 18 months I have been more productive and more creative than at any time in my 70-plus years. I have produced artwork that I know to be outstanding; I have brought together circles of remarkable women from across the world – the Wilding Women journey – and am collaborating with them to collect and share their wilding stories; and am writing a book about it.

I have indeed come into my own during the pandemic.

The indispensable ingredient is, of course, privilege. The privilege inherent in being a white, middle-class, highly educated woman; and because of my age and an underlying health condition, in the vulnerable bracket. As a vulnerable older person I unexpectedly became visible – someone to be protected, cared for, no longer overlooked and ignored as was so often the case pre-Covid when a cloak of social invisibility descends on post-menopausal women. It has been an instructive experience being visible, if only for a few months, and if only with the express aim of making sure that I don’t over-burden the health service and create extra pressure on those remarkable people who are holding it together.

Privilege has taken the edge off any negative impact that I might otherwise have experienced from Covid-19. I have the elements prescribed by Virginia Woolf for a woman’s creative life – a room of my own and £500 a year (that is, a laptop and easy chair in a south-facing bay window; and a modest and reliable pension). I share my space with a loving man and am not short of hugs. Although living with an underlying and progressive neurological condition, I am healthy. I have easy access to 11 acres of inner-city private wooded garden. My children and grandchildren are self-sufficient and living too far way to visit regularly so physically I haven’t missed them; emotionally we are entwined and connected by good internet.

My privilege has protected me from the virus itself; I did not have to put myself in places where I might be exposed to it – working or shopping or living in overcrowded housing. My privilege has given me the means of staying emotionally, mentally and physically healthy – I had no worries about my family, about money, or shelter, or a food supply. I had no concerns about my own state of mind.

The pandemic has protected me from everything that has, in the past, detracted from my work – interruptions, distractions, noise, irrelevancies; lockdown has given me space and a blessed silence.

I have indeed come into my own.

At this point I have to say that my partner, reading an early draft of this essay, said how smug I sounded. How do I – how does anyone – relate good fortune without smugness, without apology? As Tolstoy observed: “All happy families are alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Perhaps it is less that all happy families are alike, more that in their happiness they lack the drama to make a novel that keeps the reader gripped for the 864 pages of Anna Karenina’s life and death. Is it that the good fortune that I have experienced in lockdown, the excitement of creativity and making, the bliss of silence and bird song, bores other people?

Perhaps – I make no apology.

I have Parkinson’s disease, often described as an uninvited visitor that turns up and won’t go away, bringing progressive physical and – often – mental disability. In his poem The Dance of Death Anthony Hecht’s Tarantula is a sinister, unexpected and unwanted visitor that arrives with the plague and won’t leave. It (he?) brings death in its more appalling forms, and takes a macabre and unspeakable pleasure in describing them. Covid-19 too is an unwanted visitor that has appeared, settled in to the community and is going – if at all – only with the greatest reluctance. It too brings death, and leaves behind a legacy of ill-health and trauma. But for some, unwanted visitors can also bring gifts.

The gifts it has brought me have been many. The gift of time to explore ideas, to read voraciously, to draw and sew and write. The gift of online skills workshops to develop story-telling talents and writing abilities. The gift of connection: for Covid-19 has brought with it a paradox – the greater the isolation, the greater the potential for connection. Unforeseen, totally unexpected, the pandemic has brought with it the gift of new friendship, of women’s friendships.

Being isolated and locked down physically has, it seems, brought out the imaginative determination of women who refused to be cabined, cribbed, confined and who looked for ways not only of continuing their work but seizing the chance to innovate, to expand, to live dangerously at the edge of their skills, making it up as they went, building the airplane when flying it, as the trope goes. As one woman friend put it: “When you’re backed into a corner, you innovate your way out of it.”

And through those innovations I came into my own with new and exciting connections.

The extraordinary thing, for me, was the depth of those connections. For three minutes I looked quietly and gently into the eyes of a woman a thousand miles away – establishing a level of trust and connection almost impossible to do face to face without embarrassment. We were part of 1:59, an online dance and performance project. Previously run face-to-face alternately in Paris and Seoul by the Korean dancer and performance artist Eun Me Ahn (one minute, fifty-nine seconds is the average length of time that people view something on YouTube before flicking to the next thing) we – all amateurs, and mostly women – were each invited to create and video a dance performance one minute fifty-nine seconds long, to be live-streamed from Seoul. Over three months of workshops in dance, theatre and filming, in “breaking the edge of the frame”, in using sound, in constructing narrative and in simply hanging out and conversation, I met women from across Europe (as well as the world) and established friendships that continue to grow and develop. Laughing with someone on screen deepens the connection.

I have come into my own.

I have come into my own through connections. Through connections that weave me into imperceptible tapestries of gifts and support. And through the invisible, or barely visible, connections that I have with hundreds, if not thousands, of other people, other gift-givers; the hitherto taken-for-granted gifts given to me by the drivers and logistics people who keep the food coming into the shops; by the pickers and packers and posties and delivery people who keep essentials and non-essentials arriving at my door; the dustbin men who empty the rubbish regularly and tidily; the people who keep the clean water flowing from my taps, and the power flowing into my household appliances, and my precious, treasured internet connection.

I have come into my own, too, through the impossible choices that so many have made, weighing up whether to isolate and lose their source of income and maybe their home, or work and keep food on the table and a roof over their heads, and risk infecting – possibly killing – themselves and the people they love. And the dark thread that runs throughout all this pandemic time of the women living with an increase of abuse, and fear for themselves and for their children.

Minna Salami says: “There are realisations from which you can never return; lightbulb moments that shape your destiny by revealing the constellations of your behaviour”.

In writing this essay I have had such a realisation: I have become acutely conscious that the gifts of connection, friendship, creative making, are dependent on the gifts from previously unseen, unacknowledged people who together hold up my happiness, my privilege, my smugness. As EM Forster said: “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?”

How do I hold them in my gratitude? Clapping for the NHS fades before what Virginia Woolf called the unnarrated lives of ordinary women.

I too have had my time here, working for a contract cleaning company when the bank no longer believed my over-optimistic client spreadsheets and was handing me over to “the hard guys at Head Office”. Then in my late fifties, I was one of the invisible supporters, walking the almost deserted early-morning streets of the small rural town where I lived, wearing the polo shirt with the logo of the cleaning company stitched onto the pocket (left breast), smiling and nodding a good morning to others doing the same, all of us en route to visitor centres, hotels, bars, yacht clubs, to clean toilets, iron table cloths, change beds, mop floors. The time when – miraculously – I found money lying in the grass where it had fallen out of someone’s pocket, a few pounds, enough to feed me and the children over the weekend. My imagination fails me when I think what it would have been like to live through this period of my life, locked down, no cleaning job, no money, no hope for the future. Shame on me to have forgotten those two years, forgotten what it feels like, forgotten the connections, the interweaving.

In her book, Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer talks about how the indigenous Americans – she is of Potawatomi heritage – plant corn, beans and squash together. Called the Three Sisters, the corn grows up tall and provides support for the beans. The beans trap nitrogen to enrich the soil for all, and the squash spreads around the base of the others, keeping out the weeds and insects. Together they flourish. Kimmerer says: “The way of the Three Sisters reminds me of one of the basic teachings of our people. The most important thing each of us can know is our unique gift and how to use it in the world. Individuality is cherished and nurtured, because, in order for the whole to flourish, each of us has to be strong in who we are and carry our gifts with conviction so they can be shared with others. Being among the sisters provides a visible manifestation of what a community can become when its members understand and share their gifts. In reciprocity, we fill our spirits as well as our bellies.”

I have benefited from Covid-19.

Beyond the creating, the making, the learning, I have benefited from Covid-19 in discovering and knowing my own unique gifts and sharing them with others freely and generously. I have benefited from Covid-19 in becoming more acutely aware of my privilege and starting to learn how to go beyond it. I have benefited from Covid-19 in recognising and starting to understand the supportive connections I have with other people, and – above all – in making new and unexpected friendships in far-flung places from Seattle to Prague.

It was, for me, the best of times – I can say this now without guilt or apology; my world has expanded, my experiences have multiplied, my existing friendships have deepened and new friendships have formed, my inner self has distilled.

It was, for so very many, the worst of times – I can say this now with empathy, acknowledgement and appreciation.

And for many more, and still for many, the last of times – I can say this now with sadness for lives cut short and compassion for those who mourn.

And for so very many of us Covid-19 has brought the paradox of connection through isolation: in reciprocity we fill our spirits. hubertbutleressayprize.com

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• Victor Mukhin

Victor M. Mukhin was born in 1946 in the town of Orsk, Russia. In 1970 he graduated the Technological Institute in Leningrad. Victor M. Mukhin was directed to work to the scientific-industrial organization "Neorganika" (Elektrostal, Moscow region) where he is working during 47 years, at present as the head of the laboratory of carbon sorbents.     Victor M. Mukhin defended a Ph. D. thesis and a doctoral thesis at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (in 1979 and 1997 accordingly). Professor of Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. Scientific interests: production, investigation and application of active carbons, technological and ecological carbon-adsorptive processes, environmental protection, production of ecologically clean food.   

Title : Active carbons as nanoporous materials for solving of environmental problems

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Metallurgicheskii Zavod Electrostal AO (Russia)

In 1993 "Elektrostal" was transformed into an open joint stock company. The factory occupies a leading position among the manufacturers of high quality steel. The plant is a producer of high-temperature nickel alloys in a wide variety. It has a unique set of metallurgical equipment: open induction and arc furnaces, furnace steel processing unit, vacuum induction, vacuum- arc furnaces and others. The factory has implemented and certified quality management system ISO 9000, received international certificates for all products. Elektrostal today is a major supplier in Russia starting blanks for the production of blades, discs and rolls for gas turbine engines. Among them are companies in the aerospace industry, defense plants, and energy complex, automotive, mechanical engineering and instrument-making plants.

Headquarters Ulitsa Zheleznodorozhnaya, 1 Elektrostal; Moscow Oblast; Postal Code: 144002

Contact Details: Purchase the Metallurgicheskii Zavod Electrostal AO report to view the information.

Website: http://elsteel.ru

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