Illustrators’ Club

The Illustrators’ Club (Czech: Klub ilustrátorů) is a Czech association that brings together leading Czech illustrators, with a particular focus on the art of children’s and young adult literature. It was founded in 1990 as the Club of Illustrators of Children’s Books (Klub ilustrátorů dětské knihy) and operated under that name until 2014, when it adopted its current shorter name. Its membership includes prominent illustrators, some of whom also teach at art schools such as the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art in Pilsen, and many of whom have received major domestic and international awards. The Club’s mission is to maintain the quality of illustration and the visual form of books, especially literature for children and young people. It organizes exhibitions of illustration, participates in children’s art competitions, and holds talks with children in libraries, schools, and kindergartens. Since 2003 it has run a regular travelling presentation of illustrations that tours Czech and foreign galleries and libraries. Since 2006 it has cooperated with the Czech section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) under UNESCO. In 1993 the Club was a co-founder of the annual Zlatá stuha (Golden Ribbon) award, given to the best authors of original Czech books for children and young people and to translators. Club members serve on the juries that nominate and select winners, and the Club actively helps organize the award each year, including choosing the jury for the illustration category. The Club also seeks to draw media attention to the work of its distinguished members on the occasion of their life anniversaries. Current leadership includes Lucie Dvořáková and Renáta Fučíková. The Club continues its activities as a registered association (z. s.), focusing on cooperation with organizations active in the visual arts, literature, and education; support for public activities that present quality literature and its visual treatment; the organization of exhibitions and other presentations of members’ work; and education and outreach related to literature and its aesthetic form.

The Illustrators’ Club was founded in 1990 as a civic association under the name Club of Illustrators of Children’s Books (Klub ilustrátorů dětské knihy). It operated under that name until 2014, when it adopted the shorter name Klub ilustrátorů (Illustrators’ Club). From its beginnings the Club focused on organizing exhibitions of illustration aimed at children and young people, having its members serve on children’s art competition juries, and holding talks with children in libraries, schools, and kindergartens. One of its aims was to draw media attention to the neglected topic of children’s illustration. In 1993 the Club was a co-founder of the annual Zlatá stuha (Golden Ribbon) award, which is given to the best authors of original Czech books for children and young people and to translators. Club members sit on the commissions that nominate authors of verbal works, illustrators, and translators for the annual award, and then on those that grant it, thereby highlighting exceptional creative achievements in literature for children and young people. Since 2003 the Club has organized a regular presentation of illustrations that travels through Czech and foreign galleries and libraries. Since 2006 it has cooperated with the Czech section of IBBY (International Board on Books for Young People) under UNESCO. The present-day Club continues these activities. It focuses on cooperation with organizations connected with visual, literary, and educational work; support for public activities linked to the presentation of quality literature and its quality visual treatment; the organization of exhibitions and other public and non-public presentations of its members’ works; and education, training, and outreach related to literature and its aesthetic treatment. The Club also seeks to remind the media of the work of its distinguished members on the occasion of their life anniversaries. Its leadership includes Lucie Dvořáková and Renáta Fučíková.

• 2014

  Changed name from Club of Illustrators of Children’s Books to Illustrators’ Club (Klub ilustrátorů).

• 2006

  Began cooperation with the Czech section of IBBY under UNESCO.

• 2003

  Began organizing a regular travelling illustration exhibition through Czech and foreign galleries and libraries.

• 1993

  Co-founded the annual Zlatá stuha (Golden Ribbon) award.

• 1990

  Founded as the Club of Illustrators of Children’s Books (Klub ilustrátorů dětské knihy).

A professional association of leading Czech illustrators dedicated to the quality of children’s book illustration and its public promotion.

• Travelling illustration exhibition

  A regular presentation of illustrations touring Czech and foreign galleries and libraries since 2003.

• Zlatá stuha award

  Annual award for best authors of original Czech books for children and young people and translators, co-founded by the Club in 1993.

1. 1domovská stránka | Klub Ilustrátorů dětské knihyklubilustratoru.cz
2. 2Illustrators’ Club - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Klub ilustrátorů - Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org