Illustrator's Corner

A Call to Illustrators and Artists: 2009 Competition Exhibit

Minnesota SCBWI and Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) are cosponsoring an Illustrator’s Competition & Exhibit, two interrelated events following their May 2008 Children’s Poetry Contest. Copies of the five winning poems will be given to all who apply. Each artist can choose one or more poems to illustrate and submit to the juried show. There will be a total of $500 awarded in prizes at the opening reception. This is an open competition, participants need not be members of the sponsoring organizations.

Download Competition Guidelines in PDF format.

Applications available: July 1, 2008
Deadline for submissions: January 16, 2009. All work must be on site by 4 pm this date.
Exhibition Dates: March 20 – May 2, 2009

Size: No larger than 16 x 20 inches, including frame.
Multiple submissions accepted: Each submission illustrates one poem, which may or may not be incorporated into the illustration. If a poem is incorporated into the illustration, the artist will need the poet’s permission to sell the illustration, and/or be willing to pay the poet for use of his/her poem before selling the illustration.
Application fee: $10.00 per submission.
Media categories: 1) Painting/drawing, 2) Digital, 3) Collage/mixed media
Awards: One award per media category.
Completed work: Must be framed and ready to hang.

How to submit: Write Jeff Rathermel and include a $10 check payable to MCBA ($10.00 for each submission), your name, address, and a SASE to receive the application materials and copies of the five poems. Or stop in at The Shop at MCBA to pay the application fee and pick up your materials.

Jeff Rathermel, Artistic Director, MCBA
MNSCBWI/MCBA Illustrator’s Competition
Minnesota Center for Book Arts
1011 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Return the completed application form with your illustration. Include return postage or explain when and how the work will be picked up after the exhibit closes.

The top three winners will be announced on the MCBA and MNSCBWI websites the end of March. No calls will be accepted. If there is room, the three winners will be contacted to have more of their work put in the show. The exhibit will be up during The Loft Children’s Literature Festival for all participants and publishing professionals to view.