Endangered Species Day Art Contest

The nationwide Endangered Species Day Art contest provides students 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.

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 a list of all endangered species here.)

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.

Prizes
The contest’s grand prize winner will be honored with 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. Prize is not redeemable for cash. 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 deadline for submission is March 26, 2010. See all the entry requirements and get your entry form.

For more details on the contest and general Endangered Species Day information, log on to www.endangeredspeciesday.org