The Global Canvas 2025 children’s art competition is run by David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF). It is open from 9 September 2024 until 14 February 2025. No entries will be accepted after the deadline.

Each entry must comprise of work undertaken by a child or group of children aged between 4 and 16 years old at the deadline date of 14 February 2025. Group and individual entries will be judged separately and in the following age categories – age 4 to 7 years, age 8 to 11 years and age 12 to 16 years.

All entries must interpret the Global Canvas 2025 theme which is ‘Coexistence’ which draws on the International Union for Conservation of Nature ‘red list’ of endangered animals

All entries must be received digitally by midnight on Friday 14 February 2025. No physical artwork should be sent to DSWF.

Each group and individual entry must comprise of:

1. A fully completed group or individual entry form, completed by a responsible adult aged over 18.
2. Up to 3 photographs of the artwork

In addition to the above, for group entries an accompanying video can be submitted to show the artwork and or creative processes. Specific conditions of video submission are:

1. Videos must be a maximum of one minute in length.
2. Videos must be submitted by email to education@davidshepherd.org via WeTransfer, Google Drive or Dropbox. They will have the artist/group name, artwork name and date of application saved as the file name and in the header of the email. Films are accepted in any format with landscape the preferred option.
3. Please ensure the film is of a high resolution and the audio clear with title sequences and first name credits included where possible (do not include surnames). All films should aim to show the artwork and explain what the children and young people have learnt. All video footage must only include age[1]appropriate content and imagery.
4. All videos must respect copyright law. You must have written permission for any content used in the film that is not your own and must be prepared to supply these permissions to DSWF if requested.
5. DSWF may ask to use your video in the online final or for other promotional purposes. If so, DSWF will require a model release form for everyone visible in the film. This will be downloadable from the DSWF website or will be sent to entrants at the time of the request.

Permission from each student’s parent/legal guardian must be sought and obtained prior to entry to the competition as photographs or videos of each entry may be used in the virtual final (which will be hosted on YouTube after the event), website, social media, email and press. These permissions will be assumed if the entry is submitted.

For individual entries, please note that we may use your name (first name and first initial of surname), age and country of residence for the purpose of identifying you as the creator of your entry.

Entries will be judged on the quality of art, interpretation of the theme, creativity, and, for group entries, level of collaboration. The decision of the judges will be final.

DSWF reserve the right to cancel the Global Canvas 2025 competition should circumstances arise out of their control that make this necessary.

Entries are free but donations to DSWF’s charitable work would be very welcome and can be made on our website, by cheque made payable to ‘DSWF’ and sent to ‘Global Canvas Art Competition, DSWF, Saba House, 7 Kings Road, Shalford, Surrey GU4 8JU’ (please include the name of the group / school or individual you are donating from) or by calling the office Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (UK time) on 0044 (0)1483 272323. Please note that donations do not affect judging.