Global Canvas 2020 – Endangered

Global Canvas is an annual international art competition for groups of children aged 16 and under.

Set up by David Shepherd in 2004, the competition has engaged thousands of children from all over the world through art, giving them the opportunity to find out about endangered species, their habitats and the threats that they face. Global Canvas also allows them to express themselves through their creativity.

The judges selected 19 entries to go through to the final, which was held at the Natural History Museum, London, on Thursday, 12 March. They had a very difficult time choosing the winners from such a colourful and creative shortlist. There were some wonderful examples of reusing materials to create art; an octopus made of old tights, a snake made of garlic netting and trees made of broom bristles were just some of the highlights.

Global Canvas 2020 – theme ‘Endangered’

To enter this year’s competition children were asked to create mini displays based on the theme ‘Endangered’; 5086 children from 21 countries including; Mexico, China, Canada, Moldova and Ghana, participated in creating 133 wonderful entries.

Global Canva 2020 guest speaker Stephen Rew

The winners were announced during a prize-giving ceremony where we were very fortunate to have artist and winner of Wildlife Artist of the Year 2019, Stephen Rew, as our guest speaker. Stephen gave an inspiring talk and the children had lots of questions for him afterwards.

“If endangered animals go extinct, I will have nothing to paint,” said Rew very much in the spirit of David Shepherd. “Find what it is you love and then use it to give back to the world,” Stephen Rew

Global Canva 2020 Winners  – The Makers from Oaks Park High

This entry incorporated an ark of endangered species made from papier-mâché. Proving someone else’s trash is the art class’s treasure, contributing young artists collected plastic bottles and paper found in the school’s bins to create their chosen endangered species. The judges felt this artwork captured the theme ‘Endangered’ with a sustainable twist.

Second Prize  – Antz Kidz, Berkshire

Garlic netting and broom bristles where just some of the recycled materials used to create this sophisticated art piece. The judges admired the attention to detail and the intricacy of this artwork. It was also deemed a very original entry. 

Third Prize – St Bartholomew’s Primary

The future of orangutans is bleak if we do not stop deforestation. The judges commented on the clever and impactful way the students exhibited this important conservation message with their orangutan portrait. 

Stephen Rew Personal Choice Award  – St Hilary’s School

Rew enjoyed the use of vibrant coloured wool, as an artistic medium, applied to capture the pantones of the forest. Hidden in the woodlands was weird and wonderful creepy-crawlies. 

Michael O’Mara Books Personal Choice Award  – Langrish Primary School

Dive into the underwater world of Langlish’s educational artwork made from a variety of different artistic mediums from papier-mâché to recycled messages in a bottle. 

The David Shepherd Award – Caleb British International School, Nigeria

The David Shepherd Award is presented in memory of the talented wildlife artist, conservationist and founder of DSWF. This award is decided by the DSWF staff who admired the powerful message on plastic pollution displayed by the kaleidoscopic marine fish and shark made from recycled materials. 

Global Canvas Prizes

Prizes included: trophies, DSWF species adoptions, art materials vouchers for the top 3 schools, and a selection of books.

With thanks to our wonderful competition sponsors: Michael O’Mara Books.

Enter Global Canvas 2021

Look out on the website for the launch of the Global Canvas 2021 competition this summer. The deadline for entries will be January 2021 (date and theme to be confirmed).