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Global Canvas Children’s Art Competition

The entry period for Global Canvas 2024 has now closed. We have received hundreds of fantastic artwork from individuals and groups from around the globe and we are very much looking forward to judging everyones pieces. Find out more about this year’s competition below.

Artwork by Aleksandra Mortona

Global Canvas children’s art competition is an annual international art contest run by DSWF, to encourage creativity from young people, to display thought and concern for our planet’s environment and the incredible wildlife that inhabits it.

Set up in 2004 by DSWF’s founder, wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd, each year, the competition receives thoughtful and creative entries from all over the world, with an amazing array of interpretations of the year’s theme.

Artwork by Li Ching Yin
Artwork by Daniel Yu

2024 Theme

“The Barometer of Life”

A barometer measures atmospheric pressure to help us prepare for bad weather. The ‘Red List’ of threatened species measures the pressures acting on species and how many are left, which helps governments and wildlife charities prevent extinctions. That is why the ‘Red List’ of endangered species, developed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is often called the barometer of life.

The Red list was developed in 1964 and has grown into a searchable database of 150,000 animals and plants that anyone can use in their work to conserve wildlife. It contains information about where and how the animals and plants live, how many are left, the threats they are under and what we are doing to save them.

Previous Global Canvas themes have included ‘Biodiversity – A Complete Web of Life’, ‘Forests of Land and Sea’, ‘It’s Our World’, ‘Our Precious Planet’, ‘Into the Wild’, ‘Habitats of the World, Endangered’, and ‘Healing Nature – A Planet on the Edge’.

Who can enter Global Canvas?

Children and young people aged 16 and under.

Groups and Individuals – the competition is split into 2 categories which are judged separately.

Groups require a minimum of 2 people.

The categories will then be judged in the following age groups:

  • Ages 4-7 years
  • Ages 8-11 years
  • Ages 12-16 years
Artwork by Dayu Lai

Competition winners will receive a cash prize or vouchers for art supplies, digital animal adoptions, and certificates.

Artwork By Dyneeka Jones

How to enter Global Canvas?

Create your artwork
Any art techniques can be used to create entries; including painting, sculpture, textiles, collages and we always like to see recycled materials.

Online Entry Form
Fill-in the online form for Individual or Group by Tuesday 13 February 2024. Send us your contact details, clear images and a short video of your artwork.

Winners will be Announced
All artwork will then be reviewed by our judges and the winners will be announced on 25th April 2024.

Groups
Groups must create a ‘display’ based on the theme to enter the competition. Find out how to create a ‘display’ for Global Canvas.

Individuals
Individuals can create an artwork of any size based on the theme.

Terms and conditions.

 

Individuals

Individual applications for Global Canvas 2024 have now closed.

Groups

Group applications for Global Canvas 2024 have now closed.

2024 Global Canvas Sponsors

 

A special thank you to artist and co-founder of Michael O’Mara Books, Lesley O’Mara, for her ongoing support as a personal champion of our work.

Global Canvas Masterclasses

Created by Wildlife Artist of the Year finalists – our masterclasses have been designed exclusively for Global Canvas applicants. We will be publishing upcoming masterclasses, here.

See the first in our series of art masterclasses >
Artwork by Angela Zhang
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
Global Canvas 2022 Winners
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
Creating a display for Global Canvas

2023… A record breaking year!

We were delighted to receive a record-breaking number of entries, and the creativity and innovation on display was truly exceptional.

After a comprehensive judging process, winners were announced at our live Awards Ceremony on the 26th April 2023.

927

4,301

57

Entries Children Involved Countries
David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
Wildlife Artist of the Year Finalist 2023
Artwork by Imogen Christian

Aged 15 or over and a budding wildlife artist?

Young wildlife artists between the ages of 15 and 19 are invited to enter the ‘Youth Exclusive’ category in our Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. Click the button to find out more.

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