The Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition is an international illustration contest held annually as a special event of the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF), with the support of the Shanghai Press and Publication Administration. Since its creation in 2015, the competition is providing a venue for emerging illustrators to showcase their talent. It aims to build bridges between them and children’s publishers, both domestically and globally. In so doing it has given fresh life to China’s children’s book industry. The Golden Pinwheel is not merely a standalone competition—it is a comprehensive programme, which includes exhibitions, an illustration yearbook and a variety of promotional campaigns. It fosters an inspiring and nurturing environment where young illustrators and children's book artists from around the world find a platform to realise their visions.
The 2019 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition is the result of a global call for submissions, in which we received submissions by 1,999 illustrators from 72 countries and territories, with a total of nearly 10,000 artworks. The Golden Pinwheel Competition, which continues growing along with CCBF, has become one of the most important illustration competitions in the Asia Pacific region.
In 2020, the Golden Pinwheel Jury will be composed of five illustration specialists with different professional backgrounds, recognised in China and overseas. They will conduct a three-round judging process in order to make a selection of 50 illustrators known as “finalists”, and identify the winners of the following awards among the finalists:
| Golden Pinwheel Grand Award (China) | 1 |
| Golden Pinwheel Grand Award (International) | 1 |
| Golden Pinwheel Illustration Special Mentions | 3 |
| People’s Choice Award (online vote) | 1 |
The 50 finalists’ illustration series will be exhibited at the 2020 Golden Pinwheel Illustration Exhibition taking place at the book fair from 13 to 15 November, where visitors are offered a comprehensive itinerary through the most beautiful artworks in competition. In addition, these works will be featured in the 2020 Golden Pinwheel Illustration Yearbook. Over the year, this beautifully edited catalogue has become a reference tool for publishers and other industries in search for new talents.
In 2019, CCBF launched a new project with stationary manufacturer Jiukoushan and Light Space‒Xinhua Books, resulting in the production of a limited edition MINI NOTE notebooks series featuring the art of illustrators selected among the finalists. This project will continue in 2020 and the chosen artists will be invited to participate in more commercial initiatives.
One of the award-winners will be chosen by the CCBF Organising Committee to design the key visual of the 2021 edition of the book fair. This new image will be an integral part of the fair's visual communication for a whole year, including its use on our website, social media, gifts, and in advertisement campaigns. Click here to know more about the 2020 CCBF key visual.
The winner of the Golden Pinwheel Grand Award (China) will be invited to attend the 2021 edition of the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair (BCBF), and the winner of the Golden Pinwheel Grand Award (International) will receive an invitation to the 2021 Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF). Both invitations include a flight ticket and full accommodation, covered by the event organiser. The invited artists will have the opportunity to participate as guests in various illustration-related activities taking place at the fair.
| Submissions | 30 Jun 2020, 23:59 (GMT+8) |
| Finalists selection | 6 Jul 2020 – 15 Aug 2020 |
| Finalists announcement | 9 Sep 2020 |
| Awards announcement | 13 Nov 2020 (opening day of the CCBF) |
For inquiries regarding submission, reception, exhibition and awards, please contact:
E: ccbf.goldenpinwheel@bfchina.net
Allen Su, Event & BD Manager
E: allen.su@bfchina.net
