The Caples Awards Becomes Free to Enter for 2020

It is now free to enter for creatives and agencies globally in order to support creativity amid the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Now in its 42nd year, the show launched in 1978 by ex-BBDO copywriter Andi Emerson, and now led by Patrick Collister and Duncan Gray will continue in May 2020.

The tough decision to continue with the show was made following discussion with global creative leaders. All entries made prior to this announcement will be refunded in full. 

The Caples Awards announces today that the 2020 awards show will be free to enter. The awards will still go ahead virtually in May this year.

Taking on the advice of creative industry leaders, the decision to continue with the show was not made lightly. However, run by creatives for creatives, The Caples’ custodians Patrick Collister and Duncan Gray, felt it is more important now than ever that the award-winning work of creative people is still recorded and that recognition be accessible to all. As a result, any agency or business who has already entered the Caples awards will be given a full refund for any entrance fees paid. New entries will be cost-free.

Patrick Collister and Duncan Gray, custodians of the Caples Awards said: “We’d hate people to look back and see a black hole where creativity in 2019-20 should have been. We always say that The Caples is an awards show run by creative people for creative people. This really is a manifestation of that. We wanted to demonstrate how much we really do believe in our peers, our industry and creativity itself. After much debate and discussion, internally and with creative leaders, we wanted to do something that could support creatives and agencies through this difficult time. We felt the best way to do that would be to make the show free. We recognise that some agencies and individuals may not be able to work with us this year, and we completely respect that. In no way do we want to trivialise the events worldwide but in these unprecedented times, with so many awards cancelled, ourselves and our judges thought this could help.”

Entries are open until May 1st 2020 and companies can enter work here. All work submitted should have been published or broadcast between September 1st 2018 and the competition closing date of May 1st 2020.

Judges from around the world will judge the work virtually on 11th and 12th May. Award winners will be announced on 13th May. Winners will receive a trophy and be featured in the book of the show (sponsored by Xerox) which will be made available for download digitally.