Romulus-Candea-Prize

Every two years, designaustria, in collaboration with an Austrian publishing house, the Institute of Literature for Young People, and the Federal Ministry for Culture as its partners, organises the Romulus Candea Prize—an illustration award for a fully illustrated, unpublished children’s book. The prize is worth 2,500 euros, and in addition the book is awarded a publishing contract. Selected projects will also be assessed by a jury of children.

Eligible for participation are illustrators who have lived in Austria for at least five years. Assessment criteria for the book project include its innovative potential, artistic ambition, autonomy, and uniqueness. Realisability and feasible production will also play a role.

The competition is named after designaustria honorary member Romulus Candea (1922–2015), the inventor of the famous ‘Stanisläuse’ and illustrator of more than forty books for children and young people.

Romulus Candea award winners (2003–2019)