Eastern PA SCBWI Scholarship: Illustrator Day AND MG & YA Day—LIVE! in Lancaster 2026
Eastern PA SCBWI and its Equity and Inclusion Team are honored to offer two full Equity and Inclusion/Financial Need Scholarships for our Illustrator Day and MG & YA Day, which will be held at the Lancaster Public Library, Lancaster City Branch, September 19, 2026.
Please read below for full details.
Deadline to apply for the scholarship: May 15, 2026
ABOUT THE EVENT:
Join us live in Lancaster, PA, on September 19 for a full day of learning for illustrators and children’s novelists! This in-person event will feature a track for illustrators and a track for middle grade and young adult novel writers and translators with presentations and critique opportunities from industry professionals.
Full event details can be found at https://www.scbwi.org/events/illustrator-day-and-mg-ya-day-live-in-lancaster-2026.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE SCHOLARSHIP?
The scholarships will cover the cost of registration for the full event, which includes access to two bonus webinars ("Drawn to Story: Crafting Characters and Cracking Smiles" on August 22 with Larissa Brown and "Embodied Point of View: Capturing Your Main Character’s Perspective in Narration" on September 3 with Lisa Gouldy), plus a free one-on-one in-person critique with a faculty member of your choice and the Art Director’s Assignment (for illustrators). The total value of this scholarship is $316 (based on premium member rates).
The scholarship does not include transportation to the event, meals, or lodging (if needed).
WHO CAN APPLY?
The scholarships will be awarded to one illustrator and one writer or translator who self-identify as a member of a community that is traditionally underrepresented in the field of children’s literature (including but not limited to people of color, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, Native people, and people from ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities) AND/OR who have a financial hardship (and would not otherwise be able to attend).
One scholarship will be awarded to an illustrator and one scholarship will be awarded to a middle grade or young adult writer or translator. If you are a writer-illustrator, please decide which event you will participate in (Illustrator Day or MG & YA Day) and apply for that scholarship only.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please fill out the application here between April 15 and May 15: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqa16TEnLeBYIORuF4re9eaRGmiG_IFTYdaiqORpXyN2b8ig/viewform?usp=header
You will be asked to submit a personal statement explaining why you are applying for the scholarship, a little bit about your creative journey, and, to your level of comfort, explaining how you self-identify as a member of a community that is underrepresented in the field of children’s literature or/and the nature of your financial need/circumstances.
- For illustrators, you will be asked to provide a link to a website where we can see your illustration work; OR upload the first half spread plus the next two full spreads of your picture book dummy; OR upload five portfolio-ready illustrations.
- For novel writers (including novels in verse), you will be asked to upload five pages (double spaced, 12-point font) of a middle grade or young adult manuscript.
- For translators, you will be asked to upload five pages (double spaced, 12-point font) of a translation and include a brief note about the source work (in the same document).
Note: The samples do not need to reflect experiences within an underrepresented or marginalized community. Our goal, and mission, is to uplift and support the creators.
You will be asked to submit your choice of faculty member for the critique.
The deadline to apply for the scholarship is May 15, 2026.
Scholarship applicants will be informed of the decision on or before May 29, 2026.
General registration will open June 1, 2026.
In the event that equally qualified applicants apply, priority may be given to Eastern PA SCBWI members. Please note that if no applicants meet the requirements, Eastern PA SCBWI reserves the right not to award the scholarships for this event.
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].