SCBWI announces new awards for Australian illustrators

The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) has announced three new awards for Australian illustrators, with support from the Copyright Agency.

The SCBWI Australian Picture Book Illustrator Awards include an Established Illustrator Award ($8000), for illustrators with six or more published picture books or graphic novels; a Developing Illustrator Award ($5000), for those with between two and five published picture books or graphic novels; and an Emerging Illustrator Award ($2000), for illustrators with one or two published picture books or graphic novels.

For all awards, SCBWI defines ‘published’ as being published by a PAL publisher, approved by SCBWI as an established non-vanity or subsidy publisher with a broad means of retail distribution. For each award, the prize money is to ‘assist with the creation of a new picture book or graphic novel’.

The awards will be judged by three Australian publishers and US art director Laurent Linn, former creative director of Sesame Street and art director of Simon & Schuster USA.

SCBWI regional advisor Susanne Gervay told Books+Publishing this is ‘major news for Australian children’s illustrators’. ‘Apart from substantial prize money, we want every illustrator to benefit, so included in the award are two webinars by fabulous illustrators on their craft and how to prepare portfolios,’ said Gervay, adding that SCBWI would also arrange for ‘an Illustrator Showcase of the best’ to go to all publishers.

Submissions for the award open 1 September and close 1 December. For more details see the SCBWI Australia and New Zealand website.

Category: Awards Junior Local news