Entries for the Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition are now being accepted. Winners will receive a cash prize of $4,000 and a five-day trip to Bologna, Italy, to attend Cersaie 2013.

Now in its 20th year, the competition honors the exceptional work of North American architects and designers who have featured Italian ceramic tiles in their institutional, residential, and commercial/hospitality projects. It celebrates the pairing of innovative design ideas and products from leading manufacturers of Italian ceramic tile in creating spaces that are well appointed, versatile, timeless, and sustainable. Recent winners include Fractal Construction, Leo A. Daly and RSP Architects.

For the 20th edition of the competition, North America-based architects and interior designers are invited to submit new or renovated domestic and international projects completed between January 2008 and January 2013. A special panel of design experts will judge the projects based on their creativity, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. The official criterion for the jury includes: overall design of the project; innovative use of tile; tile design; quality of installation; degree to which tile enhances the setting; and the project's sustainable attributes.

Winners will be announced at the Ceramics of Italy International Press Conference during Coverings in Atlanta, GA, from April 29 - May 2, 2013, where the winners will present their projects to the public. The winning architect/designer in each category will receive a cash prize of $4,000 and a five-day trip to Bologna, Italy, to attend Cersaie 2013—the world's largest exhibition for ceramic tile and bathroom furnishings. An additional $1,000 will be awarded to the winning contractor/tile distributor team in each category.

The Ceramics of Italy Tile Competition is completely digital and free to enter. The online application, guidelines and an inspirational archive of winning projects from the past 20 years are available on the competition's official website www.tilecompetition.com. Deadline for entries is February 6, 2013.