UPDATE: deadline extended to February 23, 2015.
For nearly four decades, the AOI (Association of Illustrators) has presented the most comprehensive and significant awards for illustration in the UK. Now, for the first time in it's history, the organisation welcomes an international partner, the Directory of Illustration, to create the World Illustration Awards.
The World Illustration Awards promotes exceptional work by illustrators and presents illustration as a major force in global visual culture. The awards are international and open to illustrator's worldwide working across all sectors and in any medium.
Work must be entered into one of the 8 categories. These are very broadly defined to welcome work of all types and in all contexts where illustration is used:
• Advertising - Illustration commissioned for the purpose of advertising any type of product, event or brand in any media and presented through any platform.
• Books - Illustration commissioned and published within the book format for a readership of 16 years or over. Work submitted may be a book cover, inside illustrations, whole book design or entire publication.
• Children’s Books - Illustration commissioned and published within the book format for a readership of 16 years or under. Work submitted may be the book cover, inside illustrations, whole book design or entire publication.
• Design - Illustration commissioned and published within the context of a design brief. This is a very broad category and includes all areas of design.
• Editorial - Illustration commissioned and published within the context of journalism, comment, reporting, current affairs, campaigning, social comment and news communication in any media and for any platform.
• Public Realm - Illustration created for and displayed in the built or natural environment.
• Research and Knowledge Communication - Illustration commissioned for the purpose of undertaking research and communicating knowledge. Illustration that is used as a research or investigative tool and that represents, explains or seeks to understand information or data.
• Self Initiated Work - Projects developed by the artist and not in response to an external brief. This may be any kind of work that the illustrator has ’self commissioned’.
Work must be entered as either a New Talent entry or a Professional entry. New Talent entrants are 3rd year undergraduate students, post-graduate students or graduates within two years of graduation. Professional entrants are all other professional illustrators.
There is no limit to the amount of entries you make. Entrants can submit as many entries as they choose and in as many different categories as they feel is appropriate.
Single entries cost £25 (approx. 39 USD) per entry for UK and EU and £20.83 (approx. 32.50 USD) per entry for the rest of the world. Multiple entries cost £45 (approx. 70 USD) per entry for UK and EU and £37.50 (approx. 58.50 USD) per entry for the rest of the world.
Eligibility
The World Illustration Awards are open to illustrators working in any medium, context or geographical location. Commissioners and agencies are also able to submit illustration work.
Prize
Shortlisted work is showcased online, allowing commissioners and industry peers to browse work and contact successful artists directly. Each year’s shortlist is available to view permanently in the Awards archive.
Award Winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at Somerset House, the major arts and cultural centre in the heart of London. Selected works will be exhibited in their spectacular Terrace Rooms before touring the UK, as well as being showcased in an accompanying publication, which will be circulated to all major commissioners of illustration.
Following its display at Somerset House the exhibition tours to multiple venues across the UK. This national tour receives approximately 40,000 visitors during its run. A publication will be launched to coincide with this exhibition and will be available from October 2015.
