RULES OF ENTRY
1. AIMS
To mark the bicentenary of Carlo Collodi’s birth, BolognaFiere/Bologna Children's Book Fair (“BCBF”), in collaboration with Cooperativa G. Stoppani/Accademia Drosselmeier, are organizing an initiative dedicated to Pinocchio (“the Initiative”. This global cultural icon, one of the most translated books in history, will be the focus of an international illustration exhibition premiering at BCBF in April 2026, coinciding with the 60th Illustrators Exhibition of the Fair (“the Exhibition”).
This special event is part of BCBF’s "Italian Excellence" exhibition series, which has previously spotlighted contemporary Italian illustration through showcases presented across the world. The project will bring together invited artists and illustrators selected through the current competition and is slated to tour internationally following its debut.
2. ENTRY’S THEME
Applicants for the Exhibition selection should be inspired by the works by Carlo Collodi The Adventures of Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet.
3. ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
Illustrators, provided they were born prior to 31st December 2008, are eligible to enter the Exhibition.
For registration and submission of the entry the participants must fill in the Entry form and submit the digital version of their work online - one (1) illustration, unpublished or published, created in black and white or colour, produced using any technique – to be submitted in accordance with article 5).
For published work, the participant must also provide the ISBN number of the publication.
Participation is free of charge and implies the full acceptance of the present Rules of entry.
4. TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DIGITAL FILE
Format: JPG or PNG Resolution: 300 DPI
5. SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
The registration and file upload function will be made available FROM 3 OCTOBER TO 30 NOVEMBER 2025.
The only official channel for registration and submission of the work is the Bologna Children’s Book Fair’s website www.bolognachildrensbookfair.com.
Participants must fill in the Entry form and upload their file online.
6. DEADLINE
All entries must, without exception, be received by 30 NOVEMBER 2025. Entries received after this date will not be included in the selection process.
7. JUDGING
All artwork sent by the stated deadline – 30 NOVEMBER 2025 - and meeting the specified requirements will be examined and selected by a panel of experts, whose decision is final.
The illustrations of the selected illustrators will take part in the Exhibition dedicated to Pinocchio presented at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2026, and, subsequently, the exhibition will also be presented by the other Italians and International partners of the initiative.
8. THE WINNERS
To have their artwork included in the Exhibition, all selected applicants must send the file in high resolution of their selected work by the date to be indicated in due course by the Organizing Secretariat of the Exhibition.
Winners should take special care to send exactly the illustration they entered in the competition.
9. ARTWORK SPECIFICATIONS
The artwork (i.e., the final printable size of the sheet) must not exceed the following maximum sizes: 50 x 70 cm (or 70 x 50 cm)
10. USE OF THE IMAGET
he illustrators remain the sole owners of their artwork, but they acknowledge for free the non-exclusive right of BolognaFiere and of its partners to:
11. CATALOGUE
Each winner featured in the Exhibition will be given a space in the catalogue which will showcase their selected illustration alongside biographical and bibliographical notes
BolognaFiere may not be held liable for errors or omissions.
While the illustrators remain the sole owners of their artwork, they hereby acknowledge the non-exclusive right of BolognaFiere, entailing no charge, to:
The illustrators undertake not to advance claims in respect of the reproduction, publication and use in the above-mentioned forms of their artwork by BolognaFiere and/or third parties, hereby acknowledging BolognaFiere’s intention with such action to promote throughout the world the work of the artists featured in the Exhibition.
12. EXHIBITIONS OUTSIDE ITALY
After the Bologna event, the Exhibition may subsequently be transferred to venues in other countries at the discretion of BolognaFiere.
The illustrators included in the Exhibition grant the organizers of the various stages of the exhibitions held outside Italy the non-exclusive right entailing no charge to reproduce the artwork selected on posters, leaflets and other Exhibition literature as well as on any other support (digital medium, on-line systems), also for promotional purposes of the Exhibition itself.
13. LIABILITY
Applicants hereby agree to hold harmless BolognaFiere from and against any liability and third-party claims related to the contents of the artwork they have submitted for the Exhibition.
14. EXHIBITION CANCELLATION AND CHANGES
BolognaFiere may cancel the Exhibition or change the dates thereof. without anything being due to the participants.
15. PRIVACY
BolognaFiere undertakes to process the personal data made available by you in compliance with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No. 2016/679, as well as with the guidelines and requirements laid down by the Data Protection Supervisory Authority and any other applicable regulation.
For further in-depth information regarding the processing of your personal data by the Company, please consult the Privacy policy statement of the Entry form, which should be signed in acceptance and returned to us.
16. LAWS AND JURICTIONS
By submitting their entry, the illustrators accept and acknowledge the Exhibition Regulations and all the rules that BolognaFiere may introduce. Relations between BolognaFiere and the illustrators are governed by Italian law. Any dispute will be subject to the jurisdiction of the Italian courts and to the sole competence of the law court of Bologna.
OPEN UP
GALLERIES
GLOBAL RIGHTS EXCHANGE
FAIRTALES