Attending this year’s The Thurber Prize show were Michael Maslin and Liza Donnelly (herself a Thurber Prize finalist), there to announce the creation of a companion award to the original Prize.
Thurber’s childhood home is in Columbus Ohio, which I visited today. Restored, it’s a historical site, and a thriving center for writing workshops and the annual Thurber Prize for American Humor. I’ve been there before, but this weekend I went with my husband to participate with Thurber House’s Humor Prize Awards Ceremony, given every year to a humor book. We were there to announce an additional annual prize, The Thurber Prize for American Cartoon Art. Michael and I have discussed the idea for years, and are so happy to be working with Thurber House to make it a reality, starting in 2024. I will explain more when we have details and there will be a website and written criteria in the fall.
Read Liza’s full introduction about the forthcoming award.
Excerpt from Michael Maslin’s column on their trip and the new award:
Last Friday, my New Yorker cartoonist colleague (and wife), Liza Donnelly and I, made a trip west to Columbus, Ohio to join in the festivities surrounding the awarding of the Thurber Prize For American Humor (the winner was Steven Rowley for The Guncle). Our part was to deliver the following (after a few minutes of on-stage banter):
“As long time cartoonists at The New Yorker, we are here with you tonight to make a major announcement. We are so pleased to announce that for the first time ever, beginning next year, this annual prize ceremony will expand to include a brand new second category.
Along with Executive Director, Laurie Lathan, and the wonderful Thurber House, in 2024 we will debut The Thurber Prize For American Humor In Cartoon Art.”
Details of this new category will be available in September of this year, when you’ll find a link here to the official site.
As both say above details about eligibility and submissions will come later this year.