A new international publishing prize has been developed by the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, in a major new initiative for the gallery’s annual Melbourne Art Book Fair.

The Cornish Family Prize for Art and Design Publishing is the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, and will award $15,000 AUD for the winning book, with additional $1,000 AUD prizes for up to five finalists.

Tony Ellwood, Director, NGV, said, ‘With the generous support of the Cornish family, the NGV has developed The Cornish Family Prize for Art and Design Publishing to honour excellence and innovation within art and design publishing, and to celebrate the art book publishing sector on a global scale.’

The most significant prize of its kind, The Cornish Family Prize will recognise the book in its entirety rather than individual elements such as graphic design or print production, making it unique in its scope. The prize aims to acknowledge publishing as a key critical practice around the world and support innovation in the field.

The NGV invites applications from publishers, artists, designers, writers, curators and organisations around the world whose publishing practice explores art, design, architecture and contemporary culture. Titles must have a publish date of December 2015 – December 2016.

The inaugural winner will be announced at the 2017 Melbourne Art Book Fair, to be held at NGV International from 16-19 March 2017.

Applications via the Melbourne Art Book Fair website.