ARTSPACE MACKAY

> Closing date for entries: 5pm, Friday 12 October, 2007

> Shortlist of finalists announced Friday 19 October, 2007

> Selected works to be received between Monday 7 January and Friday 18 January, 2008

> Announcement and opening of exhibition 6pm, Friday 8 February, 2008

> Exhibition dates: Saturday 9 February to Sunday 23 March, 2008

> Finalists’ works to be collected, no later than 5.00 pm Sunday 6 April 2008

Artists’ Books

Artists’ books are not books about art or artists, but are books as art.  Books produced in the ‘Fine Press’ tradition usually contain original images, created and printed by an artist, or by another printmaker under the supervision of the artist.  In addition to traditional printmaking processes such as lithography, etching, engraving and screenprinting, the use of digital media has become widely utilised and accepted in the production of artists’ books.

Artists’ books can be used as a sculptural means of storing and sharing information.  Along with text, they often contain visual images, unfolding pages and inserts, sequences of ideas, unusual bindings or uniquely moulded cases.  Artists’ books can be conceptual in nature.  In these works the artist may seek to re-examine the book form itself, or to explore the nature of typography or text.

The Libris Awards

The Libris Awards are Australia’s premier national artists’ book prize. 

An initiative of the Mackay City Council through Artspace Mackay, these biennial awards seek to develop awareness of the Council’s significant collection of artists’ books, and to develop the collection further through the acquisition of new works by leading Australian artists working in this field.  The Libris Awards are open to artists living and working anywhere in Australia. 

ACQUISITIONS and AWARDS

Mackay City Council, Artspace Mackay  Acquisition Fund
Works by all finalists may be acquired for inclusion in Mackay City Council’s Artists’ Book Collection.  Additional acquisitions will total $2000.

Prizes will be awarded in three categories:
Category 1:
Mackay City Council National Artists’ Book Award (acquisitive)
The award-winning book will be acquired for inclusion in Mackay City Council’s Artists’ Book Collection housed at Artspace Mackay (ASM). The winning artist will receive a $3000 cash prize sponsored by Mackay City Council.

Category 2:
Blue Horizons Property Consultants Regional Artists’ Book Award (acquisitive)
This award will be presented to the best book by an artist living and working in our region (??) and aims to promote regional arts practice in the field of artists’ books. The award-winning book will be acquired for inclusion in Mackay City Council’s Artists’ Book Collection. The winning artist will receive a $1500 cash prize sponsored by Blue Horizons Property Consultants.

Category 3:
Arthouse Gallery Young and Emerging Artists’ Book Award (acquisitive)
An award aimed at promoting and encouraging entry into the field of artists’ books by young and emerging artists (artists aged 26 or younger in 2008) from throughout Australia. The award winning book will be acquired for inclusion in Mackay City Council’s Artists’ Book Collection. The winning artist will receive a prize of $750 sponsored by Arthouse Gallery.

Prize-winners will be announced at the opening of the Libris Awards exhibition and launch of the 4th Australian Artists’ Book Forum, 6pm Friday 8 February, 2008.

The Libris Awards: Australian Artists’ Book Prize exhibition will be on display at Artspace Mackay from 9 February until 23 March 2008.

Conditions of Entry
Artspace Mackay strictly adheres to the following Conditions of Entry to ensure fairness for all entrants.  Please ensure you abide by all Conditions.  The Selection Panel will not consider entries that do not comply with the following conditions:

Eligibility

The Libris Awards are open to artists living and working anywhere in Australia (must be Australian citizen or resident in Australia for 12 months or more).  Artists may submit one entry only. All finalists’ works are eligible for acquisition by Mackay City Council Art Collection, (Artspace Mackay, Acquisition Fund). and for the major National Artists’ Book Award (Category 1)..  Location of residence conditions apply in Category 2 and age restrictions apply in Category 3.
Each entry must be the original work of the entrant and must have been completed since 1 March 2006.

How to enter

All entrants must complete the Pre-Selection Entry Form, and enclose it with a cd-rom containing up to 5 digital images of the entered work and a non-refundable entry fee of $30.00 (inc. GST).

All entry payments (cheques/ money orders) should be made payable to Mackay City Council.  This administration fee is non-refundable.  Receipts will be posted if a stamped, self-addressed envelope is included with the entry form.

Digital images should be less than 2mb each, saved as jpegs, and able to be opened on PC format.  Each jpeg should be saved with artist’s name and title of the work.  Entry should also be accompanied by a curriculum vitae, briefly outlining professional experience and exhibition history (2 pages max.).
ALL CDs WILL BE RETAINED BY ASM.

Entries (pre-selection form, cd-rom, and fee) should be posted to:
LIBRIS AWARDS
ARTSPACE MACKAY
PO BOX 41
MACKAY QLD 4740

or may be hand-delivered by 5pm, Friday 12 October to:
ARTSPACE MACKAY
CIVIC CENTRE, GORDON STREET
MACKAY QLD 4740

Entries will be accepted until close of business Friday 12 October 2007. Late entries WILL NOT be accepted.

Pre-selection

Entries for pre-selection for the Libris Awards 2008 must be received by ASM no later than 12 October 2007.  Pre-selection will be undertaken by a panel chaired by Michael Wardell, Director,. The Panel will select finalists to be considered for exhibition, awards and acquisition.  Notification of the Panel’s decision will be posted on ASM’s website on Friday 19 October 2007.  All entrants will be notified of the outcome of the pre-selection process by mail.  Please note, digital and supporting material will not be returned by ASM.

Finalists’ entries selected for exhibition should be received by ASM from Monday 7 January and no later than Friday 18 January, 2008.  Works should be accompanied by a completed label form, distributed to finalists with official notification of selection.  Artworks will not be accepted unless labelled and delivered to ASM.
 
Judging

The Libris Awards will be judged by Michael Desmond, Curator, National Portrait Gallery, Canberra.  Acquisitions through the Mackay City Council Acquisition Fund will be selected by Artspace Mackay. The judge shall determine the award-winning works. Artspace Mackay and the Judge reserve the right not to award any prize.
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
All the finalists’ entries will be viewed and judged.  Artspace Mackay reserves the right to select which works shall be displayed in the Gallery, with the selection being final and binding; no correspondence will be entered into.
All entries will be held at Artspace Mackay for the duration of the exhibition.

Labels, Packaging and Display

A label, to be attached to, or inserted into original artwork, will be forwarded to finalists with notification of selection.   The completed label must accompany the work when delivered to ASM.  Entries are to be adequately packed in a strong box or tube.  Packaging materials should be suitable for re-use, and should contain adequate stamps and labels for return of works to the sender. Artist’s books will be displayed in cabinets where appropriate. Wall-mounted or free-standing works must be suitably prepared for installation/hanging (ie. fixtures, instructions etc. included). Some works may be displayed so that they can be handled by visitors if requested by the artist or at the discretion of ASM.
All works will be held by Artspace Mackay for the duration of the Libris Awards exhibition. The exhibition closes on Sunday 23 March 2008.

Return of artwork

It is the sole responsibility of the entrant to ensure they have included adequate postage and labelling to facilitate the return of their work.
Entries to be collected personally or by courier must be collected during business hours by Sunday 6 April 2008. Return of works by courier shall be organised by the entrant at their own expense.  Artspace Mackay must be informed of any arrangements for pick-up of works in advance.

Events

Entries in the 2008 Libris Awards will be displayed between
9 February and 23 March 2008, as the keynote exhibition component of the Focus on Artists’ Books 4 at Artspace Mackay. The program will include the 4th Australian Artists’ Book Forum , practical masterclasses on book arts and printmaking, workshops, artists’ talks and displays from the Mackay City Council Collection. 

Care and Insurance

Artspace Mackay will exercise reasonable care of works entered in the Libris Awards but will not accept responsibility for loss or damage, howsoever caused while works are in its keeping or in transit. Insurance remains the responsibility of the entrant.

Acquistions and Sales

All entries must be available for acquisition by Mackay City Council, at the artist’s nominated price.  Please note that works will only be acquired if the price does not exceed current market value.  Artists are required to supply ASM with a tax invoice if their work is purchased.  GST is the responsibility of the artist.

Artspace Mackay will not be responsible for the sale of works to third parties. Any enquiries regarding the sale of works will be directed to the artist / artist’s agent.

Publicity

Selected artists must allow their works to be reproduced by print or electronic media (including website) in the advertising and promotion of the exhibition and Libris Awards. Artspace Mackay reserves the right to reproduce the winning entries in publications in relation to the Libris Awards and 4th Australian Artists’ Book Forum, 2008.

An Artspace Mackay project
Supported by

Mackay City Council

Blue Horizons Property Consultants

Arthouse Gallery

Artspace Mackay
Civic Centre
Gordon Street
(PO Box 41)
MACKAY QLD 4740
T (07) 4957 1775    F (07) 4957 1794
Email:  artspace@mackay.qld.gov.au

Competition enquiries to Nicholas Williams, Exhibitions Officer.