Each year, the SCBWI sponsors four conference scholarships for full-time graduate or undergraduate students studying illustration. (Two for the Winter Conference, two for the Summer Conference.) The Student Illustrator Scholarship winners will receive admission to the Summer or Winter Conference and entry in the Juried Portfolio Showcase. Many of our SIS winners have gone on to be represented by agents, get illustration work, publish books, and win awards. SCBWI reserves the right not to award the scholarship in any given year.
Submission portal can be found in your Member Profile under the AWARDS tab.
Submissions for the In-Person Winter Conference open October 22 through November 15.
Winners will be announced on December 18.
You must be currently enrolled, or have graduated in the past semester, as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at an accredited educational institution, and must be at least 18 years old.
Applicants cannot have published a picture book before.
You may apply even if you have applied to the SIS in the past, as long as you have not won before.
A description in 250 words or less of why you wish to attend the SCBWI Conference.
Three samples of your children’s book-style illustrations in separate attachments.
Photo of your current student ID.
Note: In the event that a recipient cannot attend for any reason, SCBWI staff should be notified as soon as possible. The scholarship may, in that event, be awarded to another applicant. The grant is not transferrable and cannot be postponed.
1. Click on your MEMBER HOME
2. Click on the AWARDS Icon
3. Scroll down to the Student Illustrator Scholarship box and click 'submit'
Questions? Please email Sarah Diamond at sarahdiamond@scbwi.org.