CILIP petitioned to bring back Kate Greenaway medal after rebrand

A petition has been launched calling on CILIP, the libraries and information association, to reinstate the Kate Greenaway medal after renaming it The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration.

Created by librarian and lecturer Rose Roberto and Tamsin Rosewell, illustrator and bookseller, the petition has so far garnered more than 900 signatures including from the likes of Dapo Adeola and Rob Biddulph.

The petition states: “In 2023, without a general consultation (and a limited one amongst very few librarians), CILIP decided to rename The Greenaway Medal ‘The Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration’ due to branding expediency. 

“The name of an accomplished woman, whose work is directly relevant to the award, has been removed and replaced with that of a male industrialist and a sponsoring corporation. This feels hugely insensitive, and ironically inappropriate when it awards a profession that still battles to be recognised.”

It contends that “at a time when other institutions are making space for more female representation, and to promote the diversity of British art and illustration this move is taking the award quite blatantly in the wrong direction".

“The Greenaway Medal can be seen as a companion to The Carnegie Medal for Writing, but it has long had its own identity as a separate award that recognises the work of illustrators.  Keeping a prestigious award named after a talented and accomplished female is important,” the petition reads.

“The medal named in her honour is a tribute to all artists everywhere and should not be replaced by a controversial industrialist.  We’d like to call on CILIP to reinstate Kate Greenaway’s name on this award before the 2024 nominations.”

The Bookseller has reached out to CILIP for comment.