An artist’s book is a medium of artistic expression that uses the form or function of “book” as inspiration.
Every two years the Northern Beaches Library Service holds an Artists’ Book Award attracting entries from around the world. Books are selected from the entries to form an exhibition. From the exhibited books, judges then select books to be acquisitioned and added to the 80 plus artist books the Northern Beaches Library Service holds in its collection. This collection is unique in our community and public library service.
All selected works in the 2021 award will be displayed at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum from Friday 19 February to Sunday 28 March. Winning works will be purchased as part of the Northern Beaches Libraries’ collection.
Important Dates
- Entries open from: 9am Monday 21 September 2020
- Closing date for entry extended to: 9am Monday 30 November 2020
- Successful entrants notified by email by: 5pm Monday 4 January 2021
- Selected works to be received between: Tuesday 5 January and Friday 5 February 2021
- Opening & announcement of acquisitions: 5pm Saturday 20 February at Manly Art Gallery and Museum
- Exhibition at Manly Art Gallery & Museum: Friday 19 February to Sunday 28 March
- Works to be collected from Manly Library or returned as instructed between: Monday 5 April and Friday 23 April
Who Can Enter
Any artists’ book created within the past two years is eligible for entry to the Northern Beaches Libraries Artists’ Book Award 2021. The award is acquisitive.
How to Enter
Entries are now closed.
More information
For further information contact: ArtistBookAward@northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Acquired Artists’ Books
You can request to view our acquired artists’ books at Manly Library.
Our 2019 Acquisitions
The 2019 acquisitions were announced by judges Geoff Harvey and Katherine Roberts on Thursday 2 May 2019 at the Manly Art Gallery and Museum.
| Bernard Appassamy (NSW) | '2,422 Haircuts' | 2019 | $1500 |
| Hannah Caprice (VIC) | 'Animalgamations' | 2018 | $800 |
| Josephine Duffy (NSW) | 'Postcards from the edges: from Sydney and Cork to Santander | 2018 | $1650 |
| Salvatore Gerardi (NSW) | 'Coastal Lagoon' | 2019 | $2200 |
| Monica Oppen (NSW) | 'All Human Beings' | 2019 | $500 |
| Wendy Sharpe (NSW) | 'Moroccan Scroll' | 2019 | $3000 |
| Sandra Williams (NSW) | 'Life in the Splash Zone' | 2019 | $200 |
| Lindy Yates (VIC) | 'Draw the line' | 2018 | $400 |
Our 2017 Acquisitions
The 2017 acquisitions were announced by judges Ben Rak and Michael Hedger on 30 March at the Creative Space.
| Guy Begbie (Wales, UK) | ‘Brisbane Dérive’ (Route 9) | 2016 | $1,500 |
| Gregory Day & Jiri Tibor Novak (Vic.) | ‘A Smile at Arm’s Length’ | 2016 | $2,800 |
| Nicci Haynes (ACT) | ‘…in my drawing costume…’ | 2017 | $70 |
| Gita Mammen (Vic.) | ‘Feverfew’ | 2015 | $1,650 |
| Alan Purdom (NSW) | ‘Silence’ | 2017 | $950 |
| Bronwyn Rees and Elizabeth Banfield (Vic.) | ‘A Different Path’ | 2015 | $1,200 |
| Michaela Stoneman (NZ) | ‘The Menagerie’ | 2016 | $900 |
Our 2015 Acquisitions
| Helen Malone and Jack Oudyn | ‘Chance’ | 2014 | $500 |
| Rob Kovitz | ‘According to Plan’ | 2014 | $65 |
| Caren Florance | 'The One Who Stopped’ | 2014 | $350 |
| Bronwyn Rees | ‘Country’ | 2014 | $1,200 |
| Bernard Appassamy | ‘The Book of Asylum’ | 2013 | $1,500 |
| Elizabeth Banfield | ‘Collected Dead Letters, Volume 2’ | 2014 | $900 |
| Mark Wingrave | ‘A Journey from One Reality to Another’ | 2014 | $35 |
| Annique Goldenberg | ‘Living Water: the river hid, logbook, codex’ | 2014 | $750 |
| Deanna Hitti | ‘Assimilated Museum’ | 2015 | $2,200 |
Our 2013 Acquisitions
| Danielle Creenaune (NSW) | ‘Unsent Letters 1’ |
| Anne-Maree Hunter (NSW) | ‘Suburban Democracy’ |
| Georgia Thorpe (Vic.) | ‘In Praise of Shadows / Ties that Bind’ |
| Sandra Winkworth (NSW) | ‘Hot Pie Portland’ |
| Nicci Haynes (ACT) | ‘The Articulate Body’ |
| Deanna Hitti (Vic.) | ‘The Country Justice: containing the practice of the justices of the peace out of their’ |
| Lyn Ashby (Vic.) | ‘Ideo(t) Grammatica’ |
Our 2011 Acquisitions
| Deidre Brollo (NSW) | ‘Untitled’ |
| Angela Cavalieri (Vic.) | ‘Certe Cosse non si dicono’ |
| Gwen Harrison and Sue Anderson (NSW) | ‘Someone Somebody Run II’ |
| Clyde McGill (Vic.) | ‘Atlas: Strongman’ |
| Lise Melhorn-Boe (North Bay, Ontario, Canada) | ‘Body map’ |
| Janis Nedela (WA) | ‘Palindrome No. 39 – MA/AM’ |
| Alan Purdom (NSW) | ‘Homage to Homage’ |
| Barbara Schmelzer (NSW) | ‘A Collection of Australian Animals’ |
