Key Colours Competition – Regulations 2024

International Award for the best Picture book concept

A professional jury will judge the artistic, literary and child-oriented qualities of the works. The winner receives 7.500 euro and the winning work will be published by Clavis Publishing. From all the entries a selection will be made for the exhibition on children’s books illustrations in  Hasselt, which may travel around.

At the exhibition children will award their favourite illustration with the Children’s Award. The winner of the Children’s Award receives 750 euro.

Works which have not been awarded with the first prize may also be considered for publication by Clavis.

The award and the resulting picture books will be largely discussed in the press and at book fairs abroad. For many illustrators this unique award is the start of a successful international career.

  • Each illustrator may participate in the contest, notwithstanding nationality, language or experience. Participation of groups is allowed as well. The submitted projects have to meet the requirements mentioned in the technical data.

  • Are excluded from participation: the members of the jury, members of the town council of Hasselt, staff of Clavis Publishing and the blood relations and in-laws of the members of the jury up to the second degree.

  • The book is intended for children of the age from 2 to 7 years old. Only a children’s book can therefore be eligible for award.

  • By the participation in the contest the illustrators and/or authors guarantee that the submitted work is fully original and was never published before in any form whatsoever. They also guarantee that they have the full copyright on it and that they can transfer the full rights of first publication to Clavis Publishing.

  • There is no entry fee to be paid.

  • The winner receives 7.500 euro. The jury may however come to the conclusion that no contribution has sufficient qualities to be eligible for award.

  • The winning work will be published by Clavis Publishing, on the conditions of the skeleton contract and the usual fee in the business. Works which are not awarded with the first prize can also be recommended for publishing to Clavis Publishing by the jury. The title will be defined in consultation with the author.

  • The competing works should be sent digital.

  • The regulations can be consulted at www.keycolours.com. The terms of entry ends on July 25th  2024.

  • The text must be sent in the original language. If the original language is not the Dutch, French, English or German language, a translation in one of those four languages should be added.

  • Each presented work must have a title.

  • The submitted works will be judged by a jury of experts at children’s books, including an illustrator and the winner of the previous edition. The winner of this edition will become member of the jury for the next edition.

  • The decision of the jury will be announced in October 2024.

  • The illustrator will have at all time a copy of his or her work.

  • The participating illustrators commit themselves to collaborate in the exhibition which will be organized in Hasselt and, possibly, elsewhere.

  • The jury decides on all cases where the regulations could have left some doubts. No correspondence will be conducted on the decisions taken. They are irrevocable.

Digital entry

Use the form on the website www.keycolours.com to submit your work. Please make sure the files you upload contain the following requirements:

  1. A children’s story for ages 2 to 7, written on a max of 4 pages, divided into text blocks.

  2. A full-size mockup with all the sketches or plates of the book as they will be worked out afterwards. The text blocks are indicated on all these pages. You may put the text in the mockup.

  3. Three of the above-mentioned plates fully worked out in colour on at least 1 entire page. The chosen technique is free. The fully elaborated plates may be integrated in the mockup.

  4. Name the files with the title of your work and a number (1, 2, 3 …).  

    For example: A_friend_for_mouse_1.pdf; ‘A_friend_for_mouse_2.pdf

Format of the book

You choose one of the following usual formats.

  • 250 x 260 mm

  • 290 x 210 mm (portrait or landscape)

  • 235 x 325 mm

The story will be told in exactly 24 pages (cover, end paper and title page not included), starting on the left page. The original drawings should be full size, with a bleed of 5 mm.

The jury judges:

  • The literary and child oriented qualities of the story.

  • The bringing into vision of the story.

  • The artistic qualities of the illustrations.