Portfolios Showcase for Illustrators

On Friday, January 31, 2025 SCBWI hosts a private exhibition of portfolios for hundreds of specially invited publishers, art directors, editors, and agents from children’s publishing houses and agencies. A jury of industry professionals will award the following honors:

●     One agented Grand Prize Award winner

●     Two agented Honor awardees

●     One unagented Grand Prize Award winner

●     Two unagented Honor awardees

The two Grand Prize winners will receive two phone/virtual meetings each from art directors or agents and free admission to the next New York Conference (room and airfare not included).

Honor Award winners will receive a phone call or video meeting with an art director or agent for guidance and feedback.

Portfolio Browse: From 7:45pm–9pm conference attendees can view the art. You are welcome to attend at this time to peruse the portfolios and meet your fellow conference goers. 

The Portfolio Showcase is open to all conference attendees who are PREMIUM MEMBERS. There is an additional $100 fee to participate.

Please read through these requirements carefully.

• Each portfolio showcase participant must read the online release form at registration check-out and check the box indicating approval before completing their registration. 
• Portfolios must be the participant’s own artwork.

Drop off and Pick Up

• All portfolios must be dropped off on Friday, January 31 between 12pm and 1pm at the Grand Ballroom Foyer of the New York Hilton Midtown Hotel. 
• You must pick up your portfolio in the Grand Ballroom Foyer between 7:45pm and 9pm on Friday, February 9th. (During or immediately after the Portfolio Browse). SCBWI is not responsible for any portfolios or promotional materials left behind. 

What to exhibit:

Portfolio, promotional postcards, dummy (optional)

Portfolio:

• Only one (1) portfolio permitted
• Standard format only
• Measurements when opened: Maximum width: 34 inches max. Maximum height: 17 inches max.
• Closed portfolio: 3 inches tall max.
• 10–15 images suggested
• Copies or prints only; no original art
• Your name and contact information must be in or on your portfolio

PLEASE NOTE: Portfolios that do not follow these requirements will be disqualified from prize consideration.

Business or Promotional Cards:

• Size: up to 5” x 7” vertical or horizontal
• 100 cards suggested
• Only one stack of cards will be placed beside the portfolio
• No cardholders permitted
• Bring cards in a disposable plastic bag or bound by a rubber band.

Dummy Book:

• One or two are permitted
• Optional, not a requirement
• Dummy may not, in any way, be a partially or fully published book.
• Dummy must be attached to your portfolio (string, yarn, and ribbon work well).
• The dummy may or may not include your own writing. Please do give author credit where credit is due.
• The dummy is simply an opportunity to display your ability to create a children’s book.
• This can be an addition to your portfolio, not a replacement for your portfolio.

Please note what IS NOT PERMITTED:

The following will disqualify your portfolio from the prize consideration:

●     Oversized portfolios (whether oversized in length, width, or height).

●     Non-secured portfolios (images not securely attached to the portfolio).

●     Original art

●     Framed art

●     Published books

●     3-D art

●     Easels, stands, or props of any kind

●     Portfolios in unusual novelty formats, such as boxes.

Follow the rules and let your artwork shine!

Questions?

Please email TeMika Grooms at temikagrooms@scbwi.org.

Q: If I'm already registered for the conference, how do I add the Portfolio Showcase to my registration?

A:  Make sure you are logged on to the site. Go to the Winter Conference page and hit the Register button. The registration form will show you everything you are already registered for and allow you to add the portfolio showcase or a consultation. After selecting the sessions you want to add, you will then be directed to the payment page.

Q:  Am I required to include my agent’s name and contact information in my portfolio?

A:  You are not required to include your agent’s name and contact information.  However, it is good practice to include this information in the event another agent, editor, or art director is interested in talking with you about a book project.  They may reach out to that person first to get in contact with you.  You may include your agent’s information on your business or promotional card that will be on display by your portfolio.

Q:  Can we include artwork in our portfolio from a book that is already published? 

A:  We understand your best work is often your finished, published illustrations.  We encourage you to label your artwork with the title of the book, author and publisher if you decide to include it in your portfolio.  Additionally, it is valuable to have written permission from the publisher that you are allowed to share the work publicly. (Perfect!!)

Here is the reason why:  The SCBWI Portfolio Showcase Awards are an industry recognized honor for the winners and honorees.  After the judging takes place, the artwork will be displayed in association with the conference to highlight the artist’s accomplishment. For this reason, you must have the right to market artwork included in your portfolio.  If you include published artwork in your portfolio, please label it appropriately and be prepared to provide documentation of permission to use the work for marketing purposes as the artists, should you be chosen as a winner or honoree.