CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: IBBY Canada 2019 Illustrator in Residence Program

IBBY Canada invites submissions from published Canadian children’s book illustrators for the Joanne Fitzgerald Illustrator in Residence program. The program will be held during the month of October 2019, hosted at the Toronto Public Library North York Central Branch (Yonge & Sheppard). The submission deadline is Wednesday, July 31, 2019.

The Joanne Fitzgerald Illustrator in Residence program is a joint project of IBBY Canada, the family of Joanne Fitzgerald, Toronto Public Library, Edmonton Public Library, and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council. The program honours the memory of Joanne Fitzgerald (1956–2011), whose books include Plain Noodles, Emily’s House and Doctor Kiss Says Yes (winner of the Governor General’s Award).  The program launched in 2013 with children’s book illustrator Martha Newbigging, followed by Patricia Storms, John Martz, Dianna Bonder, Ashley Barron and Nahid Kazemi.

Overview of the Illustrator in Residence program:

  • Illustrator presents hands-on art activities for classes of children, presentations to adults and students, and individual portfolio reviews
  • Illustrator’s original work is exhibited in an art gallery space at the library
  • Remuneration of $4,000 is provided to the illustrator, plus up to $300 for art supplies
  • Additional funds or other support for travel and accommodation may be available
  • Submissions are evaluated and the illustrator is selected by a jury

Requirements for illustrators:

  • Illustrated four or more published children’s books
  • Experience in developing and delivering programs for kids, teens and adults
  • Friendly and empathetic, with an understanding of the needs of aspiring artists
  • Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Vulnerable sector screening clearance from police
  • Available for month of October 2019 for 15 to 20 hours of scheduled programming per week: two days of morning and afternoon school visits, two weekday evenings of adult programming (but no weekends). More information is in the following Programming Guidelines.
  • PREVIOUS APPLICANTS WELCOME: If you’ve applied in a previous year, you are welcome to apply again for the 2019 program

Send submissions by Wednesday, July 31, 2019 to illustrator@ibby-canada.org.  Submissions must be a single Word or PDF document that includes:

  • Your programming ideas for classes of school kids, for adults, for art students in high school/college (see Programming Guidelines on the next page)
  • CV or resume that includes your books (with publisher and year) and your presentation experience
  • Two letters of reference about your presentations

Programming Guidelines

IBBY Canada’s Illustrator in Residence program coordinator works closely with the illustrator and the library before and during the residency. The coordinator arranges and schedules the class visits and portfolio reviews, maintains and updates the calendar of activities, and keeps the illustrator informed about any changes. The library promotes the program through their marketing vehicles, provides rooms and equipment, and offers space for the illustrator to store their supplies. The illustrator develops and presents the programming sessions, conducts the portfolio reviews, brings mounted or framed artwork for the gallery display, and purchases materials and supplies (costs are reimbursed).

We encourage illustrators to propose creative and engaging programming ideas, and also be open to suggestions from Toronto Public Library and IBBY Canada. The illustrator develops and leads the following types of workshops and presentations:

Workshops for Grades 2 to 6 in the library

Classes of kids from Grades 2 to 6 visit the library for 90-minute hands-on art workshops developed and led by the illustrator. In the workshops, everyone creates an individual piece to take with them, or works together on a group project to bring back to the school. Since different classes come to each workshop, the art activity can be the same, with modifications as needed for the ages of the kids.

The workshops for school classes should include a short presentation about the illustrator’s work with projected visuals (e.g., PowerPoint); a projector and screen are provided by the library. However, most of the workshop should be spent on the hands-on art activity.

The workshops for school classes are scheduled in the morning and afternoon on two days each week, with about 15 in total for the month. The illustrator provides enough art materials and reusable supplies for a class set and at the end of each workshop collects the reusable supplies. The costs of materials and supplies is reimbursed.  Teachers and parent volunteers stay in the workshop to supervise the class.

Presentations for adults in the library

Presentations for adults are 60 minutes, with a presentation scheduled one evening of each week in October, four in total.  The content of each presentation should be different, since adults may come to several presentations. Hands-on art activities aren’t recommended for adult presentations. The focus should be on professional development topics, such as getting started as an illustrator, illustration work opportunities, developing a style, promoting illustration work, building a portfolio, and illustrating for publishers. Adult presentations should include projected visuals (e.g., PowerPoint).

Portfolio reviews in the library

Artists and art students can book individual 30-minute portfolio review meetings with the illustrator, to get feedback and suggestions on the artwork they bring with them. Portfolio reviews are held in the library, on one evening of each week in October, with up to six portfolio reviews per evening.

Presentations for students at high schools, colleges and universities

High school, college and university presentations are held at the school, not in the library. Presentations are 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the school’s schedule. The presentations for students at their schools can be similar to the presentations for adults at the library.