2023 ILLUSTRATION AWARDS

“A “winner” to me when I could see the concept being articulated in a way that had a point of view that was unique to whoever created it. I felt like the most exciting work was work that was executed in a way I hadn’t seen before because you could tell it was unique to a particular perspective and experience of the world.”

Allie Keith, Associate Creative Director, Rethink, Toronto, Ontario

You have succeeded in building your niche within the creative industry, creating arresting and technically au point imagery. Keep pushing past your comfort zone by flexing that creative muscle. Winning an Applied Arts Illustration Award will help you broadcast your work in front of top creative professionals working in the advertising, design industries today.

This is an international competition open to all forms of commissioned, published, unpublished, and personal Illustration work, for illustrators of all levels — including newly minted professionals and Canadians working in smaller communities or smaller businesses or with smaller budgets. With over 50 categories including these and many more categories:

Be sure to review the Call for Entry kit and 2023 Photography & Illustration Categories kit for important information and tips on entering.

ELIGIBILITY

Open internationally to all forms of commissioned, published, unpublished and personal work from professionals and enthusiasts created between February 2022 and February 2023 (but not entries that have been submitted into last year’s competition). Only digital entries are accepted for this competition.

Young Blood
For professionals that have graduated within the last three (3) years.

Community
Exclusively for Canadian artists and firms working in smaller communities or with smaller businesses or budgets, to help them get the recognition they deserve.

To be eligible to enter Community categories, you must be Canadian and meet one of the following criteria:

• Small community – The entrant and client must be in a community of less than 250,000.
• Small Business – The client must be a single-establishment/small business, such as a restaurant, local retailer or service.
• Shoe-String budget – The budget for the assignment must have been extremely limited, given the project parameters.

Students
There is a stand-alone awards competition for students studying in a creative arts program at the post-secondary or high school level. Work from any year of study is eligible and may be entered up to one year after graduation. Students are only eligible to enter the Student Awards competition. Visit Student Awards for eligibility and deadlines.

CATEGORIES & ENTRY FEES

Entry fees vary per sub-grouping and category. Please be sure to download the 2023 Illustration & Illustration Categories Kit for detailed pricing.

ILLUSTRATION SINGLE: $40 / SERIES: $65
Advertising Illustration
Arts & Culture Illustration Cartoon/Comic Illustration
Conceptual Illustration
Corporate Illustration
Editorial Illustration
Environmental Factor Illustration Environmental/Spaces
Fashion & Beauty Illustration
Gallery Illustration
Packaging Illustration
Photo-Illustration – Submit through the Photography Awards competition
Portrait Illustration
Poster Illustration
Promotional Illustration
Pro Bono/PSA/Charity Illustration
Unpublished/Personal Illustration

MOTION – SHORT: $100 / LONG: $115
Animated Character
Animation

YOUNG BLOOD AND COMMUNITY – SINGLE: $30 / SERIES: $55
Entries can be from any application from the above groupings of categories.

Prize

✤ Their work published in print in the Summer 2023 issue
✤ A complimentary copy of the Summer 2023 issue
✤ Their work published online in the Winners’ Gallery
✤ A personalized, awards certificate for every winning entry signed by the founder of Applied Arts