Award info
Each year, a rotating panel of judges will provide an assignment and will judge the submissions. The theme and specific assignment will change year to year, but the general goal will be to show sequence and narrative. The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to the SCBWI New York Winter Conference. The winning illustrations will be displayed during the New York Portfolio Showcase (in conjunction with the conference).
Submissions for 2024 will reopen next fall.
2023 Narrative Art Award Prompt:
In honor of the 120th anniversary of the first successful flight of an airplane (on December 1, 1903), create a sequence of three or four drawings that tell a story of experimentation: the trial and error—perhaps the excitement— of invention.
Congratulations to our 2023 winner, Jerry Bennett! Learn more about Jerry's work at https://www.instagram.com/artistjerrybennett/
Submission Guidelines
The submission will consist of a sequence of either three or four images, without text.
Your art style and visual story must be appropriate for one of these two specific audiences/book genres (Choose one):
Full color, intended for a picture book for 4 to 7-year-olds
Black and white, intended for a middle grade book for 8 to 11-year-olds
Submit individual PNG or JPEG files to the submission portal.
Access the Narrative Art Award Submission form through the AWARDS tab on your MEMBER HOME.
Failure to follow these guidelines will result in exclusion from the online gallery.
For questions, email sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.
Criteria
The judges will look for images that reflect a range and progression of mood and emotion, and that tell your story with clarity and nuance. The narrative qualities of the submission will be considered, as will the effectiveness of the design and composition of the images. Whether you choose to submit three images or four images will not factor into the judging.
Prize
The prize is an all-expense-paid trip to the SCBWI New York Winter Conference. The winning illustrations will be displayed during the New York Portfolio Showcase (in conjunction with the conference).
