We are happy to announce the fourth edition of the international competition for an illustrated children’s book project CLAIRVOYANTS!

The children’s books world is intriguing and inexhaustible and there is still a lot to discover. In our publishing house we always support artists and authors that pay special attention to the quality of children’s books, both in terms of their content and form. Therefore, once again we invite authors, illustrators, graphic designers and all book lovers from Poland and abroad to participate in the international competition for an illustrated children’s book project Clairvoyants!

Due to the ongoing epidemic situation, 2020 edition will be a bit different than the editions organized in the past. We slightly changed the rules of submitting the projects and the organization of the jury session, and we have prepared a special surprise for the winners!

This is already the fourth edition of the contest. Over 1,500 entries from all over the world were submitted to the three previous editions! More and more books based on the awarded projects can be already found on bookshelves and we have been working with other Clairvoyant participants on the new, upcoming books.

After each edition of the CLAIRVOYANTS, the most captivating entries are compiled to create a post- competition exhibition. Exhibitions from three previous editions have been travelling all over Poland and were exhibited in many schools, libraries and cultural institutions.

The aim of the competition is to launch the process of creating beautiful and valuable books for children and to give the opportunity to talented authors, illustrators and book designers to become known on the book market. We want to stimulate the artists’ imagination and encourage them to

create well-thought and refined book projects, that have a real chance to become published books. Participants should demonstrate creativity, skilfulness, sensitivity and understanding of the children’s world. The competition is aimed primarily at book designers, students of art schools, illustrators and authors, but we invite everyone to try their hand!

What will the fourth – pandemic – edition of CLAIRVOYANTS look like?

We invite debutants and experienced artists from Poland and abroad to participate in the competition, performing individually or as a team. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

The purpose of the competition is to prepare a project (draft) of an illustrated children’s book in Polish or in English language. Submission should include a storyboard or a script of the whole book, together with 3 finished double spreads and a summary in English (obligatory) and in Polish (only if the whole project is in Polish).

The novelty of this edition is that the works should be submitted online only!
Applications must be made by the 15th of December 2020. To enter the competition you have to:

1. fill-in the online application form available on the Competition website and

2. upload the digital files containing the competition project to the online application form or include in the form a direct link to the files, from which the files can be downloaded

We will not accept applications sent by traditional mail. Competition works should only be submitted as digital files.

The application process is described in detail in the FAQ section on the website.

If you are looking for an illustrator or author to create a competition project together, we invite you to the new Facebook group “„JASNOWIDZE, łączcie się! / CLAIRVOYANTS, get together!”. You may find your creative team partner there!

The submitted entries will be assessed by two independent juries:
1. The international jury: Jutta Bauer, Romana Romanyszyn, Joanna Olech and Piotr Socha.

2. The Dwie Siostry Publishing jury: Ewa Stiasny, Jadwiga Jędryas, Maciej Byliniak.

Submitted projects will be assessed according to the following criteria: artistic quality, originality, the form which inspires child’s imagination and the content which is aware of the child’s sensitivity. This year the jury sitting will take place in remote mode, via Internet.

Competitors may be awarded with three different prizes:

• The main prize of EUR 2,500 and two honourable mentions – by the international jury;

• Book publication – by the Dwie Siostry Publishing House jury;

• Admission in the post-competition exhibition.

This time an additional surprise awaits the winners!

At the end of May 2021, just after the opening of the post-competition exhibition, we will invite the authors of the awarded and mentioned entries to take part in masterclass workshops lead by the jurors of the fourth edition of the competition!

Competition results will be announced on the 1st of April 2021.

Website of the CLAIRVOYANTS 2020:

http://www.wydawnictwodwiesiostry.pl/clairvoyants_2020/

Competition Regulations:

Do not hesitate to contact us!

e-mail: jasnowidze@wydawnictwodwiesiostry.pl ph. (+48) 22 115 44 10

Jury of CLAIRVOYANTS 20202

International jury:

Jutta Bauer – an outstanding German author and illustrator of numerous books for children. She received the most important German children’s book award Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis twice: the main prize for the book “Schreimutter” (2001) and the honorary prize for the lifetime achievement (2009). In 2010 she was awarded the highest recognition for the author or illustrator of children’s literature – the Hans Christian Andersen Award, given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY International). Her books have been translated into many languages and awarded all over the world.

Romana Romanyszyn – a highly acclaimed and recognized Ukrainian artist. Together with Andriy Lesiv , she is a co-owner of the Agrafka Art Studio. Together they have created and published a few books and illustrated many others. Projects of the Agrafka Art Studio were recognized three times in the world’s most prestigious children’s book competition Bologna Ragazzi Award. They received two honorary mentions (2014, 2015) and one main prize (2018).

Joanna Olech – a well-known Polish author and illustrator of many best-selling children’s books. A book critic and journalist in the field of children’s literature. Co-author of text-books and the Polish Film Institute expert. Her numerous books, adored by readers, have been awarded many prizes and mentions (e.g. Kornel Makuszyński Literature Award or Children’s Bestseller of the Year).

Piotr Socha – a graphic designer and illustrator, graduated from the Faculty of Graphics at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. One of the most popular Polish press illustrators, famous for his satirical drawings. He also designs books, board games and logos. Author of the books “Bees” and “Trees” published by Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry, which have been translated into over 30 languages and have been awarded many times in Poland and abroad.

Jury of Dwie Siostry Publishing House:

Ewa Stiasny – a co-owner of Dwie Siostry Publishing House; graduated from Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. She designs and illustrates books.

Jadwiga Jędryas – a co-owner of Dwie Siostry Publishing House and a translator of many books from its catalogue. A graduate of the Applied Linguistics Institute of Warsaw University.

Maciej Byliniak – an editor, translator, children’s books author. He has been taking editorial care of Dwie Siostry publications since 2007.

The three publishing house jurors – as the creative team of Dwie Siostry Publishing House – have been active on the Polish and international publishing market for years. Thanks to their work the publishing house is famous for paying a special attention to the aesthetic quality of illustrated books for children and for cooperation with the outstanding illustrators and authors.