Printing Industries has ‘revitalised’ the National Print Awards (NPA) so that the winners of state-based Printing Industries Craftsmanship Awards (PICAs) will qualify as NPA finalists. The move will see the revival of the PICAs in New South Wales and Victoria.
State-based PICAs will take place across all major states in October and November 2017.
For some states, this is a continuation of what has happened in recent years, for some it is a reinstatement for what happened in the past, and for others it is a new opportunity, says a PIAA media release. Achieving a medal at the PICA reflects that the entry is at the top echelon of performance within the state. These award-winning entries will then compete at the 2018 National Print Awards for judging on the national stage.
“PICA celebrates the uniqueness that each state has to offer as local industry best understands what is important to their region,” says chief judge Jen Baile. “Each state has its own unique strengths and challenges, and this will be judged and showcased locally.
“Whilst preserving that state celebration, the change in procedure provides the opportunity for printers nation-wide to be measured on a truly national stage. PICA medalists will be recognised as the best in their state, and then be judged independently against peers from other states. The National Print Awards will resume its prestigious position as being the best of the best, the pinnacle of design and print quality in Australia.”
PIAA CEO Andrew Macaulay says: “The industry’s awards programme is being revitalised to become bigger and better. The timing is right to utilise our awards programme as an inspirational vehicle to promote the industry to a much wider audience.
“The impressive creativity and production of work in our industry deserves to be shared beyond printers and their suppliers, to key influencers in the choice of communication channel such as advertising and marketing agencies, clients, policy makers and training institutions, to name a few.”
Printing Industries says it’s looking to create wider engagement with the awards programme through a range of initiatives such as reshaping the categories to reflect the industry today, increased engagement with the target audience and wider promotional communication.
There has been a review and alignment of categories from the PICAs to the National Print Awards. “The judges recognise things have changed and need to change,” says Baile. “There is not an industry that is not touched by change and that change is what enables industry to thrive.
“The judges are excited about the modifications that will see a consolidation of some categories as a reflection of the convergence of technological processes, and an opening up of new categories that will appeal to a broader audience.”
New categories include 3D Print, Innovation Reinvention and Branding & Identity.
Entries for the Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia PICAs opened on Monday 17th July, and Western Australia will open within the next few weeks.
For more information about the awards including dates and categories, and to enter, visit www.printingawards.com.au