IPMG director Stephen Anstice will conduct a wide-ranging review to make the industry’s printing awards more relevant.

Anstice’s review will investigate how to modernise the awards in line with industry changes and how to reduce the time and effort required to support the awards, according to the Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA).

“The association believes that the print awards need to remain relevant to all stakeholders and provide value to attract sponsors,” according to the PIAA.

“The decline in the number of businesses in the industry has seen a drop in entries. This has required the scaling back of presentation events in several states from formal dinners to cocktail functions.

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“The awards also consume a significant amount of staff time in each state. Added to this is the voluntary work of judges and local committees as well and the cost of work done free or below market rates.

“Many other forms of media are challenging print and printing technologies have changed over recent years. The awards system needs to be reviewed in the light of these changes.”

Anstice will speak to state and national awards committees, awards entrants, companies that don’t enter awards, key industry figures and sponsors. He will also look at overseas industry awards.

Anstice is working pro bono. He will present his findings to the PIAA by January 2014.

Anyone who wants to contribute can email him at awardsreview@printnet.com.au

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