The Northern Festival of Illustration Prize 2025

The Northern Festival of Illustration Prize 2025 is now open for entries!

The Northern Festival of Illustration Prize 2025 : The Northern Festival of Illustration Prize, international graphic design competition returns in 2025 with a new theme & global competition: ‘Stories Of Home’.

➜ Short description

The Northern Festival of Illustration Prize, international graphic design competition returns in 2025 with a new theme & global competition: ‘Stories Of Home’.

Illustrators are invited to explore the theme ‘Stories Of Home’ capturing the essence of what home means to them. Whether it’s a place, a feeling, a memory, or a person, home can be interpreted in countless ways. This competition challenges you to express your personal narrative, cultural heritage, or the universal concept of home through your unique artistic lens.

10 projects will be shortlisted in each category for public display at The Northern School of Art as part of The Northern Festival of Illustrations in September 2025 in Hartlepool, England.

The festival, taking place from 12th September to 1st November, will span multiple venues across Hartlepool, including Hartlepool Art Gallery and The Northern School of Art, bringing together communities, creatives, and audiences of all ages.

➜ Who may enter?

The competition is open to all illustrators, both professional and amateur, worldwide.

➜ Prize:

➜ Emerging Animator, sponsored by Aardman Animation: £500 cash prize and showing in the Festival of Illustration animation screening event at Vue cinema in Hartlepool, plus an invitation to a 6-week Aardman Academy Masterclass Short course
➜ Emerging illustrator: £500 cash prize
➜ Established illustrator: £1,000 cash prize

In addition, each of the two Illustrator Category Winners will be given progression support e.g. a free digital platform sponsored by ReadyMag or mentorship through NSA’s illustrative team.