IPG and Nosy Crow rename award in memory of Ola Gotkowska

The Independent Publishers Guild (IPG) has renamed its Young Independent Publisher Award in memory of Ola Gotkowska, former rights manager at Nosy Crow.

Gotkowska, who was shortlisted for the award five times, died in February at the age of 36. She had been living with a form of motor neurone disease for nearly four years.

The prize will be known as the Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award. In recognition of Gotkowska’s passion for international collaboration and meeting publishers, the award will be accompanied by a grant of £500 to support international business travel for the winner, sponsored by Nosy Crow.

The IPG launched the Young Independent Publisher Award in 2012, and it has since honoured the work of 10 individuals under the age of 35 in independent publishing. 
The shortlist for the Ola Gotkowska Young Independent Publisher Award, along with other categories in the 2022 Independent Publishing Awards, will be announced on 1st April. The winners will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony in London on 27th April.

Bridget Shine, chief executive of the IPG, said: “Ola was a true star of independent publishing, and would have done many more great things. We are so pleased that her colleagues at Nosy Crow have chosen to commemorate her in this way, and it will ensure that her personality and achievements are remembered. Ola was admired by all those who met her around the world, so it is very appropriate that the winners of this award will have the opportunity to travel and make new connections.”

Kate Wilson, founder and managing director of Nosy Crow, said: “Nosy Crow is so proud to sponsor the Young Independent Publisher of the Year Award in Ola’s memory. Ola was remarkable—in her excellent work for Nosy Crow, in her grace and courage through her illness, and as a friend. She was also a great example of the industry’s need—and our ability—to find brilliant young people from many backgrounds to take the book business forward. Ola was herself shortlisted for this award no less than five times… but she never won. So I really hope that she would smile her glorious smile at the thought that her name will be so firmly attached to it."