Writers, artists, designers and publishers pay attention! The National Gallery of Victoria launched an international art and design publishing prize on January 16, 2017, which has been developed by the NGV in a major initiative for the gallery’s annual Melbourne Art Book Fair.
Being the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, The Cornish Family Prize for Art and Design Publishing will award one lucky competitor $15,000 AUD for their winning book. Additional $1,000 AUD prizes will also be up for grabs for up to five finalists. Director of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Tony Ellwood, said ‘With the generous support of the Cornish family, the NGV has developed The Cornish Family Price for Art and Design Publishing to honour excellence and innovation within the art and design publishing, and to celebrate the art book publishing sector on a global scale.’
The reason why The Cornish Family Prize is so special, is because it aims to recognise the book entirely, rather than individual elements such as graphic design or print publication. Likewise, the prize strives to acknowledge publishing as a significant and critical practice around the world and within the arts field. The NGV is accepting applications from publishers, artists, designers, writers, curators and organisations around the world whose publishing practice explores art, design, architecture and contemporary culture. Titles must have a publish date of December 2015 – December 2016. The inaugural winner will be announced at the 2017 Melbourne Art Book Fair, which is to be held at NGV International from 16-19 March 2017. Applications for The Cornish Family Prize for Art and Design Publishing are now open, and close on Friday 17 February at 5pm, Australian Eastern Daylight Time. Apply at http://www.ngvartbookfair.com
The Melbourne Art Book Fair first took place in 2015 and has since attracted more than 29,000 visitors, making it the most well-attended publishing event in the AsiaPacific region. The third Melbourne Art Book Fair in 2017 will bring together international and local publishers and practitioners in a weekend of free talks, book launches, performances, and stalls featuring art, design, architecture and photography publications from around the world.
The Arty Me 