The Center for Cartoon Studies and the Slate Book Review have announced a new prize for cartooning.  Even more impressive is the fact that this prize comes with a cash award!

Two honorees will be selected each year, one for Graphic Novels and one for Web Comics.

The Cartoonist Studio Prize

Each year the Cartoonist Studio Prize will be awarded to work that exemplifies excellence in cartooning. The creators of two exceptional comics will be awarded $1000 each. Winners will be selected by Slate Book Review editor Dan Kois,  the faculty and students of the Center for Cartoon Studies, and a distinguished guest judge. This year’s guest judge will be New Yorker art editor and TOON Books publisher, Françoise Mouly.

The two award categories for the Cartoonist Studio Prize are Graphic Novel of the Year and Web Comic of the Year. Finalists for each category will be announcedFebruary 1, 2013. The two winning comics will be announced March 1, 2013.

Eligible Graphic Novels must be written in (or translated into) English, published between January 1 and December 31 of the previous calendar year. Creators or publishers may submit a graphic novel for consideration by sending a physical copy of the book, along with a submission form.

More information and links to the forms can be found here.