Endangered Species Coalition

Endangered Species Day Art Contest

The national Endangered Species Day Art contest provides young people with an opportunity to learn about endangered species and express their knowledge and support through artwork. The contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans.

The contest is open to students nationwide from Kindergarten to High School. Semifinalists will be shown at a reception at the Odgen Musem of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans. The contest’s winner will be honored with their name engraved on a special trophy designed by a gifted young artist, Meredith Graf of New Orleans, LA, and will also be recognized at a reception in Washington, D.C. in May, 2010. The four finalists from each grade category will receive a DVD copy of Furry Vengeance -- the new movie due in theatres April 30, 2010 - for a screening to be held at each winner's school in the fall!

The deadline for entries is March 26, 2010. See submission information and entry requirements below.

Please sign up to register your interest in the Endangered Species Day art contest.

We'll send you periodic messages about the contest to remind you of deadlines, update information, etc.

Note: registration is not necessary to enter the contest. Participants may submit artwork directly to the Ogden Museum (see below).

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Phone

Street

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Organization

If you are with a school, scout troop, or other educational institution, please note in the organization field.

Learning about endangered species

Schools, scout troops and other educational institutions are encouraged to learn about our nation’s wildlife, birds, fish and plants on the brink of extinction. Lesson plans and other educational materials can be found at www.EndangeredSpeciesDay.org.

Subject Matter

Artwork should highlight one or more land- and/or ocean-dwelling endangered species—mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish, plant, and/or invertebrate (e.g., insect, spider, snail, coral, crustacean or clam)—found in the United States. Entrants are encouraged to depict species that are found in their region. Entrants may wish to choose from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Spotlight Species.

(See: http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ for a list of all endangered species.)

Judging

Winners will be chosen in four categories: K-Grade 2, Grades 3-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12. From these, one national winner will be selected in 2010. Contest entries will be evaluated by a prestigious panel of judges, including artists and conservationists. Initial judging will be conducted by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, a Smithsonian Affiliate. The final winners will be chosen by a national panel of artists, educators, scientists and others. The art will be judged on the basis of

Concept: How well the work relates to the endangered species theme
Composition: How well the elements of line and form work together
Color: How color enhances the artwork
Expression: How imaginatively the work conveys an idea or emotion

Entry Requirements

The physical size of submitted artwork must be 9" x 12" and less than ¼" thick.
Image must be a live portrayal of a native North American endangered species.
Artistic liberties may be taken as long as the depiction is a recognizable endangered species.
Entries should not be matted, mounted, laminated, framed or folded.
Chalk and pastel entries should be sprayed with a fixative to safeguard artwork.
The entry may be multi-color, black and white, or a single color; it may be rendered in ink, paint, pastel, crayon, or pencil.
Techniques may include scratch-board, airbrush, linoleum printing, paper collage, dry brush, crosshatch, pointillism. No photography, weak pencil, or computer-generated art. Computers or other mechanical devices may not be used in creating artwork.
No lettering, words, signatures or initials may appear on the front of the design. Please note this change from previous art contests. Such markings will result in disqualification.
Design entries must be entrant's original, hand-drawn creation and may not be traced or copied from published photographs or other artists' works. Entrants may rely on photographs or published images as guides. However, especially when references are used for the subject(s), the entry must be the entrant's own creation and idea.
The entry must have the name, grade and title on the back of the submission in pencil.
Attach a completed entry form with tape or other fixative to the back of artwork. If using glue, be careful to use one that will not run through and damage the artwork. No paperclips.
Entries must be postmarked by March 26, 2010.

Submission

The deadline for submissions is March 26, 2010. Entries should be sent to:

Ogden Museum of Southern Art

University of New Orleans

925 Camp St.

New Orleans, La. 70130

Please include your name, address, phone number, school and grade on a seperate paper included with the art work.

Prizes

Semifinalists will be shown at a reception at the Odgen Musem of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans. The contest’s grand prize winner will be honored with their name engraved on a special trophy designed by a gifted young artist, Meredith Graf of New Orleans, LA. The winner’s name will be engraved on the trophy’s base, which will be displayed in Washington, DC. The national winner will receive a round-trip flight to Washington, D.C. for him/herself and one guardian to attend a reception. Accommodations will also be provided. All other expenses are the responsibility of the winner. Winners must be available for travel sometime in May. In addition, an exhibition of the students’ artwork and other promotions are planned.

The four national winners will also receive a DVD copy of Furry Vengeance when DVD copies become commercially available, which is currently anticipated to be September 2010. Each winner may screen the picture at his or her school provided that the school approves the screening and that the school has the facilities and technology available to screen the DVD to the school audience.Prize is not redeemable for cash.

Ownership

Submissions become property of the Endangered Species Coalition. Through submission of artwork, entrants and their legal guardians grant non-exclusive reproduction and publication rights to the works submitted which will not be returned. Though the Endangered Species Coalition will attempt to treat all submitted work with the utmost care, the Endangered Species Coalition is not responsible for any damage or loss that may occur during the sending of entries through the mail. Other contest partners, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Ogden Museum/ University of New Orleans will also have permission to use artwork for non-profit educational purposes.

Contest Partners

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. It is the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is management of these important natural resources for the American public. The Service also helps ensure a healthy environment for people through its work benefiting wildlife, and by providing opportunities for Americans to enjoy the outdoors and our shared natural heritage.

www.fws.gov

Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans

The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is a part of the University of New Orleans and a Smithsonian Affiliate. The mission of the museum is to broaden the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South through its permanent collections, changing exhibitions, educational programs, publications, research center, and its Goldring-Woldenberg Institute for the Advancement of Southern Art and Culture.

http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/

Endangered Species Coalition

The Endangered Species Coalition is a national network of hundreds of conservation, scientific, education, religious, sporting, outdoor recreation, humane, business and community groups across the country. Through public education, scientific information and citizen participation, we work to protect our nation's wildlife and wild places. The ESC is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition working with concerned citizens and decision-makers to protect endangered species and habitat.

www.stopextinction.org

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.