Tertiary Artists Book Prize

• Friday 17 October 2025 – Expressions of Interest open.

•Friday 6 March 2026 – Expressions of Interest close 5pm AEST.

• Friday 27 March 2026 – Selected artists/tertiary students notified, and new artwork commission agreements issued.

• Friday 24 April 2026 – signed new artwork commission agreements and invoice for 50% stage 1 payment delivered/due to Artspace Mackay.

• Friday 29 May 2026 – 50% stage 1 new artwork commission payment to selected artists/tertiary students.

• Friday 23 April 2027 – completed artist books and invoice for 50% stage 2 payment delivered/due to Artspace Mackay.

• Saturday 29 May – Sunday 29 August 2027 – 2027 Libris Awards exhibition dates.

• Friday 9 – Sunday 11 July 2027 – abbe Artists Book Conference + Fair, Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre (MECC)

• 6pm, Saturday 10 July 2027 – 2027 Libris Awards opening event and announcement of winners.

• Tuesday 14 - Friday 24 September 2027 – finalists’ works to be collected or returned to artists by post (except acquisitive award winners and those works acquired by Artspace Mackay).

While artist books can take many forms, there are a few elements that are common across the practice. Understanding a book as an artwork invites a reflection on the properties of the book form itself. Much like any act of reading, an artist book is a physical experience that allows a connection with the medium that – while social in its implications – is individual and personal. Whether the contents are visually or linguistically based (often a mix of both), physically moving through an artwork implicates notions of sequence, repetition, juxtaposition, and duration. The interplay of text and images, as well as considerations of printing process and the design of the book, allows for many exciting possibilities within narrative, media, and meaning that are specific to the artist book alone. (Printed Matter Inc.)

There is no set theme for the Tertiary Artists Book Prize. Applicants should articulate how the medium of the artist’s book will be employed to extend and enhance the overall concept of their proposed artwork in the Artist’s Statement section of the Expression of Interest (EOI) Form. Indicative and final artworks submitted must be the original work of the artist/s.

The Tertiary Artists Book Prize is an invitational award open to Australian artists currently undertaking (as of 6 February 2026) or who have recently completed (in the last two years prior to 6 February 2026) tertiary studies in arts, fine art, or design in Australia. You must be a citizen or permanent resident (at least 12 months) of Australia and over 18 years of age. Course and institution name and student ID number must be provided.

Up to seven tertiary students will be selected and receive a $750 non-acquisitive, new artwork commission fee (50% stage 1 payment upon completion of signed artwork commission agreement and 50% stage 2 payment upon completion and delivery of the new artist book) to create a new artist book for the 2027 Libris Awards. Selected artists/students will have 12 months to create a new artist book especially for the tertiary prize. These artist books will be exhibited at Artspace Mackay as part of the 2027 Libris Awards exhibition of finalists. Selected artists/tertiary students will then vie for the $3,000 acquisitive 2027 Libris Awards: Tertiary Artists Book Prize. All newly commissioned artists books will also be eligible for other 2027 Libris Awards prizes, including the Daly Bay National Artists Book Award (acquisitive) of $10,000 and the Daly Bay Highly Commended Artists Book Award (acquisitive) of $5,000.

Yes! Whilst you will not be in the running for the 2027 Libris Awards: Tertiary Artists Book Prize, you can still enter the broader 2027 Libris Awards.

If you are successfully shortlisted for the 2027 Libris Awards, you will be in the running for other prizes, including the Daly Bay National Artists Book Award (acquisitive) of $10,000, the Daly Bay Highly Commended Artists Book Award (acquisitive) of $5,000, and, if eligible, the Cathy Knezevic Regional Artists Book Award (acquisitive) of $3,000

Access the full 2027 Libris Awards: Tertiary Artists Book Prize Terms & Conditions of Entry for more details.

Winner announcement

Congratulations to Megan Kennedy, WINNER Category 3. Tertiary Artists Book Prize, invitational award(PDF, 2MB) (acquisitive) $3,000 with Hold Hands Spring Tide 2025, mixed media, 20.0 x 22.0 x 4.0 cm (closed), 20.0 x 44.5 cm x dimensions variable (open). Images courtesy the artist.

2025 Finalists

These seven tertiary students received a $750 non-acquisitive artwork commission fee to create new artists books for the 2025 Libris Awards.

• Rhonda Ayliffe, University of Canberra
• Isabella Kennedy, National Art School
• Megan Kennedy, Australian National University
• Alice Martin, National Art School
• Julie McElhone, University of Sydney
• Michael Phillips, Queensland College of Art
• Joanna Sulkowski, Edith Cowan University

See the full Illustrated Catalogue of Finalists(PDF, 14MB)  including the Tertiary Artists Book Prize finalists.