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Member only guide to the Australian book industry.
MIN READ
We are delighted to announce the 2024 ASA Medal has been awarded to Ann James!
Established in 2003, the ASA Medal is awarded annually to an Australian author or illustrator who has made an outstanding contribution to Australian culture, both as a creator and an advocate.
Ann James is one of Australia’s most prolific and accomplished illustrators, with over 70 award-winning books illustrated including The Midnight Gang, Dog In, Cat Out, Little Humpty, Lucy Goosey, and Goodbye House, Hello House. She has made a stunning contribution to Australian literary culture and has been unparalleled in her generous support of the Australian illustrating community.
ASA Chair Sophie Cunningham says, “I think it is safe to say that the ASA represents illustrators thanks to Ann James. She has been pivotal in raising the profile and position of illustrators as book creators, ensuring they are properly acknowledged for their work and building a viable professional environment for many artists.”
Ann James says, “I’m overwhelmed and humbled, but thrilled as a beetle as my Dad would say, to accept the ASA Medal, as it recognises illustrators as authors and celebrates the collective achievements of Australia’s children’s book creators. We are a collaborative bunch!”
Beyond her acclaimed illustrating career, Ann James has given back to Australian literature generously, both in terms of her advocacy and her mentorship of Australian illustrators. James established the Society of Book Illustrators (SoBI) with David Wong and Terry Denton in 1988, and then coordinated SoBI until the merger with the ASA in 1996. James then proceeded to serve on the ASA board for 20 years, fighting long and hard for Educational Lending Rights, establishing the ASA Style File, and frequently sharing her expertise through portfolio assessments and professional development events.
In collaboration with Ann Haddon, Ann James established Books Illustrated, to elevate and celebrate the art of picture book illustration. James was a founding director of the Australian Children’s Laureate Foundation and served on the board for 10 years. As a mentor, she has supported some of Australia’s most successful new illustrators, including Sadami Konchi and Karen Briggs. James has worked tirelessly with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation as an ambassador, running writing and illustration programs, and aiding the publication of picture books in remote Indigenous communities. James’ reach has been international, helping to establish the Hello! from Australia Publishing Collective Stand at the Bologna Book Fair, and advancing the international profile of Australian authors and illustrators.
James will formally accept the Medal at the Australian Society of Authors’ Colin Simpson Memorial Keynote, which will be held in Sydney on 13 November 2024.
About the ASA Medal
Past recipients include Helen Garner, Bruce Pascoe, Thomas Keneally, Nadia Wheatley, Valerie Parv, Tim Winton, and Anita Heiss.
Each medal is handcrafted in sterling silver by Yuwaalaraay-Gamilaraay artist Melissa Stannard. The design was inspired by the estuarine mangrove river systems local to the artist, where fresh and saltwater meet, merge and blend. These mangrove systems provide a haven of safety, serenity as well as a healing nurturing habitat for fingerlings and the next generation of other new life. The design references the supportive and uplifting work and inspirational contributions of medal recipients. We thank Melissa Stannard for her beautiful design.
