World Illustration Awards

International Deadline:  February 19, 2015 - The Directory of Illustration and the Association of Illustrators (AOI) announces an international call for artists to enter the World Illustration Awards juried exhibition, to be on display beginning Oct 2015 at the prestigious Somerset House, London. The exhibition will also travel among multiple venues across the UK, and produce a publication to coincide with this exhibition.

For nearly four decades, the AOI 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 Directory of Illustration is widely regarded as the leading marketing program for illustrators in the United States.

Work entered into the World Illustration Awards will be reviewed by a jury of distinguished and international industry professionals. The competition shortlist reflects exceptional work by illustrators currently making an outstanding contribution to visual culture.

ELIGIBILITY
The World Illustration Awards are open to illustrators in any country working in any medium or context. Work can be entered by the creator of the work (illustrator, student /new graduate) or by any third party such as an Agent, Designer, College, Publisher or Commissioner.

Work must be entered as either a New Talent entry or a Professional entry. New Talent entrants are Undergraduate Students, Post-Graduate Students or Graduates within two years of graduation. Professional entrants are all other professional illustrators.

ELIGIBLE MEDIA
Work in ANY medium can be entered in ANY category. Work entered for the competition must have been created or published between 1st January 2014 to 15th February 2015.

Entries can either be: Single Image Entry (one image per entry) or Multiple Image Entry.

EXHIBITION VENUES & AWARDS
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

APPLY ONLINE
Visit AOI for complete details and for easy online entry.

DATES
9 February 2015 Call for Entry closes
April 2015 Shortlisted work announced
June 2015 Category Winners announced
October 2015 Awards Ceremony. Awards Exhibition opens at Somerset House. Awards Catalogue published
November 2015 Exhibition starts 12-month national tour