Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists
The City of Subiaco presents the annual Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists. This visual art award is open to Western Australian school students and encourages imagination, innovation and creativity.
Entries are now open!
Students click here to enter your individual entry.
Online entries will close on Monday 24 May at 5.30pm.
Sign up here to stay up to date with the award information and reminders.
Click here to download the 2021 Shaun Tan Award for Young Artists posters. (PDF 3.98MB)
Award information
Important dates
| Entries open |
Friday 30 April, 9.30am |
| Entries close |
Monday 24 May, 5.30pm |
| Finalists announced |
Late June |
| Artwork collection |
Monday 5 July to Sunday 25 July |
| Exhibition |
Tuesday 12 July to Sunday 8 August |
| Finalists artwork collection |
Monday 9 August to Sunday 22 August |
Entry requirements
The Shaun Tan Award is open to Western Australian school students in years one to twelve. Artworks submitted must be an original, two-dimensional (2D) creation, no bigger than 1 metre x 1.5 metres in size. Artworks must be the sole work of the entrant – group or joint entries will not be considered. Entry is limited to one per person.
Judging
Entries are judged individually in the following categories:
Lower primary – school years one and two
Middle primary – school years three and four
Upper primary – school years five and six
Lower secondary – school years seven, eight and nine
Upper secondary – school years ten, eleven and twelve
Entries are judged on their originality, concept, technique and choice of materials used. Please note: due to the high number of entries received for this award each year, individual feedback cannot be provided.
How to enter
The online entry form will be available from 9.30am on Friday 30 April. Entries may be accepted from individuals or from teachers on behalf of their students. An online registration must be completed for each individual, and artworks submitted to Subiaco Library with a printed confirmation of entry before 5.30pm on Monday 24 May.
Teachers entering multiple students’ work may do so using the online teacher’s registration form.
Submit your artwork
All entries must be received at Subiaco Library before 5.30pm on Monday 24 May with an attached confirmation of entry. Artworks may be submitted in person to Subiaco Library or via post to:
Shaun Tan Award
City of Subiaco
PO Box 270
SUBIACO WA 6904
Late entries cannot be accepted.
Prizes and exhibition
Prizes are donated from the City of Subiaco and award sponsors and are presented to the top three entries in each category. A selection of the best artworks entered will feature in a month long public exhibition at Subiaco Library from Tuesday 12 July to Sunday 8 August. All exhibited artists receive professional framing or mounting for their artworks.
The City would like to acknowledge the generous support of award patron Shaun Tan and our valued sponsors Janet Holmes à Court AC, Kool Kreative, Subiaco Bookshop, Dymocks Subiaco and Heroes Framing and Memorabilia.
Terms and conditions of entry
Public use of artworks
By entering this award you acknowledge that your entry may be photographed and used in City of Subiaco publications and for future promotion of the award. Artworks will be displayed at Subiaco Library and may also be displayed at other venues around the City. The title of the artwork and artist’s name will always be acknowledged with the entry when it is used.
Insurance
Insurance is the responsibility of the entrant. Whilst all care is taken when storing and exhibiting works, the City of Subiaco accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that may inadvertently occur.
Collection of artworks
Artworks will be available for collection at Subiaco Library between Monday 5 July and Sunday 25 July. Any artworks not collected during this time will become property of the City of Subiaco and due to storage restrictions may be destroyed.
All regional entries will be returned to the entrant via post before Sunday 25 July providing they fit in a standard postage tube (90mm x 850mm). Regional entries which do not meet this criteria must be collected by the entrant before Sunday 25 July.
Exhibited artists must collect their entries from Subiaco Library at the close of the exhibition. Artworks must be collected between Monday 9 August and Sunday 22 August.
Frequently asked questions
For more information on entry requirements and competition information, please see our frequently asked questions document (PDF 488KB).
About Shaun Tan
Shaun Tan is an acclaimed artist and writer who grew up in Perth. Subiaco Library has two impressive murals by Shaun Tan on display. The Tea Party features a riotous array of strange characters and landscapes and The 100 Year Picnic is based on a photograph from the 1920s found in the archives of the Subiaco Museum.
Shaun began drawing and painting images as a teenager, and has since become best known for illustrated books with surreal, dream-like imagery. Shaun's books have been translated into many languages and are enjoyed by readers of all ages.
In 2011, Shaun won an Academy Award for his short film, The Lost Thing, and received the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award honouring his contribution to international children's literature. For more information about his work, visit Shaun Tan’s official website.