Short Description
The Macmillan Prize for Illustration is awarded for an unpublished children’s picture book. Submissions are open for 2025 and digital submissions will be welcomed until 5.30pm on 25 April 2025. No physical submissions will be accepted.
The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges comprising individuals from Macmillan as well as independent guest judges.
Established in 1985, this prize is open to non-professional illustrators and celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The aim of the award is to stimulate new creative work that helps students to take the first steps in their professional careers. This coveted award has discovered many award-winning and bestselling talents, including Emily Gravett, Lucy Cousins, Ross Collins, Bethan Woollvin and Morag Hood.
Eligibility
- be aged 18 or over and resident in the United Kingdom at the point of entry;
- have less than one year of paid or unpaid work experience working as an illustrator at a book, magazine, journal, comic book, or graphic book publisher;
- not be a professional illustrator in the book, magazine, journal, comic book, or graphic book publishing sectors, where your income is derived exclusively or mainly from illustrating books, magazines, journals, comic books, or graphic books (which includes covers for each of the aforementioned);
- not have entered into a publishing contract or accepted an offer of publication from a publisher, in the UK or elsewhere in the world in respect of any of your illustrations (including for a cover illustration); and
- not be a director or employee of Macmillan (or members of their immediate families or households) or be connected with the running or judging of the Competition.
Submission Requirements
a) All entrants must submit:
- Pencil roughs or sketches for a children’s picture book – cover to cover – including text or a clear indication of the storyline.
- Finished artwork for at least four double-page spreads, or at least three spreads and a front cover.
b) Entrants should bear in mind and focus on what is appropriate for the child reader.
c) There is no overall theme for the competition.
6. THE FORMAT
a) Length: Picture books should be between 24 – 32 pages long; this includes the front and back endpapers, a title page and a copyright page. The cover is not included in this page count.
b) Format: Although submissions are digital only, we can accept books with novelty elements (e.g. flaps, fold-out pages), and these should not exceed 24 pages. Pop-up books should not exceed 6 double-page spreads. Novelty entries should be scanned artwork. Photographs to demonstrate novelty elements may also be included but should be part of the PDF.
c) Size: The page size of the finished book should not exceed 300mm in width or height.
How to Apply
Online Application
Program Benefits & Awards
The prizes for the winners of the Competition consist of:
- Third Prize: £250
- First Prize: £1,000
- Second Prize: £500
Entry Fee
None
Location
London, United Kingdom
Timeline
- Application Deadline: 25 April 2025
Website Link: https://www.panmacmillan.com/mac-prize-terms-and-conditions
