Call for Entries – The Prize for Illustration 2017
The Association of Illustrators (AOI),
in partnership with London Transport
Museum (LTM), is delighted to
announce that submissions are now
open for The Prize for Illustration 2017.
This year’s theme is Sounds of the city.
Sounds of the City - an illustrated
interpretation of urban sound
We are surrounded 24/7 by sound in
our cities. It shapes our experiences
and our moods. Whether it’s the
sound of people going about their
daily lives – living, working, visiting or
enjoying cultural, sporting or musical
activities – or the sounds of nature
within the city, the exhibition will
show the artist’s relationship with
sound, heard within the environment
of a city context.
The competition
The aim of The Prize for Illustration 2017 competition is to attract artwork for
display in an exhibition at London Transport Museum that is colourful, inspiring
and celebrates the sounds heard in the hubbub and quiet spaces of the UK’s
vibrant, diverse, multi-layered cities. The deadline is 26 September 2016.
Entrants are invited to visually capture sound heard in our UK cities in a single
illustration. We want to see quiet and relaxing through to loud and frenetic city
sounds. Inspiration might be from natural or man-made sounds. Where does
your ear meet your eye? You may be inspired by the lyrics from a song about a
city. You might illustrate sound in a recognisable UK city, or your visualisation
might be a soundscape heard in any UK city. You might just illustrate the
people, activities or things that produce the sounds - imaginary or real, past or
present. Your imagination is the limit.
The roar of traffic. Shrieks of children playing. Honking of car horns. Rattle and
hum of music on a radio. Barking of an urban fox. Banging of a door. Rustle of
trees in a green city space. Drilling of road works. Ticking of a clock. Song inspired by a city.

Calls of a market trader. Thump of drums at a concert.
Shouts of people on the streets. Blaring of a police siren. Murmurs of people
talking in a meeting. Screech of brakes on a bus. Ringing of bells.
Clatter of a train going over a bridge. Laughter of people enjoying themselves.
Clank of glasses in a bar. Splash of rain on a pavement.
Impress the judges with your illustrated interpretation of the common, the
curious, the persistent and the distinctive chorus of sounds we hear around us
day and night and be in with a chance of having your work displayed at the
famous London Transport Museum and winning the top prize.
Prizes will be awarded in three levels:
First prize: £2000 and display of the winning image on a London Transport
Museum poster to be displayed on the London Underground.
Second prize: £1000
Third prize: £750
There is also the possibility that shortlisted images will be featured on
merchandise sold in London Transport Museum’s shop.
The competition is open to illustrators and students of illustration throughout the
world. The top 100 entries selected by a panel of independent judges will be
displayed in an exhibition at London Transport Museum that will open in May
2017 and run until September 2017. The winners will be announced at a private
award ceremony that will take place in May 2017.
The deadline for entry to The Prize for Illustration 2017 competition is 26 September 2016.
The Prize for Illustration 2017 continues Transport for London’s legacy of design
that dates back over 100 years. London Transport Museum’s collection of
graphic art is one of the most important in the world and includes over 5,000
posters and artworks by famous artists including Man Ray, Paul Nash and
Edward McKnight Kauffer.
The Association of Illustrators (AOI) is a non-profit trade association with a
membership that includes freelance illustrators, agents, clients, students and
colleges. Established in 1973, it is the only organisation to represent illustrators
and campaign for their rights in the UK and has successfully increased the
reputation of illustration as a profession as well as improved the commercial and
ethical conditions of employment.
To enter visit theaoi.com
Image by Eliza Southwood, Bronze Winner, Prize for Illustration 2015Media contacts:
• Association of Illustrators: Sabine Reimer, Awards Manager –
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 020 7759 1012
• London Transport Museum: Wendy Neville, Head of Communications
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 020 7565 7266
Editors notes:
The Association of Illustrators (AOI) The Association of Illustrators (AOI) is a non-profit trade
association, dedicated to promoting contemporary illustration and maintaining industry
standards, with a membership that includes freelancers, agents, students, colleges and
commissioners. AOI represent illustrators and campaigns for their rights in the UK, publishes
Varoom the illustration report, and produces the annual World Illustration Awards (WIA) prize and
touring exhibition in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, now in its 40th year, which
celebrates the best in contemporary global illustration.
The Association of Illustrators, telephone: 020 7759 1010,
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.theaoi.com
London Transport Museum is situated in the heart of Covent Garden and filled with stunning
exhibits; the Museum explores the powerful link between transport and the growth of modern
London, culture and society since 1800. Historic vehicles, world-famous posters and the very
best objects from the Museum’s extraordinary collection are brought together to tell the story of
London’s development and the part transport played in defining the unique identity of the city.
The Museum is an educational and heritage preservation charity. Its purpose is to conserve and
explain the history of London’s transport, to offer people an understanding of the Capital’s past
development and to engage them in the debate about its future. The Museum’s charity number
is 1123122.
www.ltmuseum.co.uk
Image: The high res marketing image can be downloaded from here:
http://www.theaoi.com//userfiles/PfI2017_SoundsOfTheCity_ElizaSouthwood.jpg
The image must be credited with: illustration by Eliza Southwood: elizasouthwood.co     

ENTRY HERE