Open Call for illustration submissions for the exhibition From Illustration to Book at the Malta Book Festival 2025

The National Book Council (NBC), in collaboration with Arts Council Malta (ACM), is issuing a call for submissions for the Malta Book Festival 2025 exhibition From Illustration to Book. The Festival and the exhibition will be taking place between 5–9 November 2025 at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC), Ta’ Qali.

This will be the fourth edition of an exhibition dedicated to book design and illustration as an integral part of the Malta Book Festival events and activities. 

The aim of From Illustration to Book is to showcase the work of Malta’s leading contemporary book illustrators and designers, as well as pay homage to the country’s book illustration pioneers through various dedicated sections: ‘Illustration Today’, ‘Artist Spotlight’, ‘Maltese Illustrated Characters’, and an area dedicated to the Malta Community of Illustrators (MCOI), featuring a selection of artwork from the 2025 edition of their Illustration Annual. 

As of last year, a new branch of the exhibition has been introduced, titled ‘From Idea to Illustration’. This addition offers a behind-the scenes look at various artworks displayed in ‘Illustration Today’, revealing the early stages of the artists’ creative process. Through a collection of sketches, designs and notes, this section highlights the unique approaches and styles that shape their final pieces.

Through this open call, the NBC and ACM are welcoming illustration submissions from both local and international creatives to be featured in ‘Illustration Today’ and ‘From Idea to Illustration’.

This initiative forms part of a strategic collaboration between the NBC and ACM which aims to showcase and promote innovation within the local publishing industry to actively encourage, support and cultivate the development of new ideas, creating an environment that stimulates creative thinking and the exploration of new approaches within the local publishing industry. 

What We Are Looking For

We would like to invite you to submit illustrations and/or designs to be considered for the Malta Book Festival 2025 exhibition From Illustration to Book. The following will be accepted: 

📚🎨 a final book cover with typography and illustration;

📚🎨 or the illustration itself featuring in the book cover as separate from the cover layout;  

📚🎨 or an illustration from the interior of the book as part of the book interior layout; 

📚🎨 or the illustration itself featuring in the book interior as separate from the layout; 

📚🎨 or a graphic design for a published book cover or interior.

❗️We are also accepting sketches or works-in-progress of the illustrations submitted, to be featured in a section titled ‘From Idea to Illustration’.

The applicant can submit the following type of work, that must have been published by the start date of the Malta Book Festival (5 November 2025): 

1. ‘published’ or ‘self-published’; 
2. from a printed book or an e-book; 
3. an illustration/graphic design work for a published book (with a Maltese ISBN) by a Maltese or a foreign illustrator/designer.
4. or an illustration/graphic design work by a Maltese illustrator for a foreign book (with a foreign ISBN).
5. or an illustration/graphic design work by a non-Maltese illustrator/designer (with a foreign ISBN).

How to Apply

Please submit a maximum of three (3) artworks in high-res format (pdf, jpg or eps) with a caption containing the following: 

📝 ILLUSTRATOR 

📝 ARTWORK NAME 

📝 MEDIUM 

📝 CONTACT DETAILS (Instagram or other social media, website) 

📝 BOOK TITLE

Please submit your application via this link, to include a Google Drive link with unrestricted access containing the artwork/s and sketch/es (if applicable), your CV, and a 20-30 word bionote. 

A maximum of two (2) illustrations and/or design per artist will be selected for inclusion in the ‘Illustration Today’ section in the exhibition. The chosen illustrations will be accompanied by copies of the corresponding publications. 

More details are available in the application form.

Selection Process

The submissions will be reviewed by a committee led by NBC and ACM according to the three criteria listed below:

💡 Idea and context

⚙  Skill and technique

🚀 Creativity and innovation

Important Dates

Open Call announcement: Wednesday 30 April 2025

Deadline for submissions: Monday 2 June 2025 at 12 (noon)

Notification of results: Friday 20 June 2025

For more info, send an email to Jasmine Bajada on jasmine-alexa.bajada@gov.mt.