STOCKHOLM (AP) – Bob Dylan has special fans at a Stockholm concert this weekend – members of the Swedish Academy who will hand him his 2016 Nobel literature diploma and medal.
Sara Danius, the academy’s permanent secretary, has been tight-lipped as to when and where Nobel officials will meet with the 75-year-old singer-songwriter, except to say their meeting – on Saturday or Sunday – would be “small and intimate, and no media will be present.”
On her blog, Danius posted photos of her sporting a T-shirt with a Dylan effigy over the text “literature 2016.” The caption read: “Ready, steady, go. Getting ready for Dylan*s concerts in Stockholm this weekend. The artist Mu Wiesel created the T-shirt.”
Dylan had declined the invitation to attend the traditional Nobel Prize banquet and ceremony on Dec. 10 – the date of Alfred Nobel’s death -pleading other commitments.
In order to receive the award worth 8 million kronor ($894,800), Dylan must give a lecture within six months from Dec. 10. He has said he will not give his Nobel lecture this weekend but a recorded version will be sent later.