Launch of global youth art contest ahead of World Wildlife Day

(Washington, DC – 12 November 2024) – Young artists around the globe are invited to create works that reflect their connection to nature and the importance of protecting wildlife in the seventh annual World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest.

Now through 2 February 2025, artists aged 4-18 can submit artwork that spotlights a species that benefits from conservation, including the planet’s most threatened and endangered species. Contestants can enter with traditional art mediums (hand drawn using markers, crayons, colored pencils, and/or paint).

World Wildlife Day 2025 will be celebrated under the theme of “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet” which aims to highlight the need to invest in wildlife through innovative financing solutions that recognize the critical role of wildlife to support our economies and well-being. 

The contest is hosted by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), in partnership with the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Twelve semi-finalists will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges, including wildlife artists, conservationists, and previous contest winners.

Winners will be announced at the official UN celebration of World Wildlife Day in Geneva, Switzerland on 3 March 2025. Their artwork will be exhibited at international conservation events, as well as featured in IFAW’s global campaigns.

Kelly Johnston, Senior Program Officer at IFAW and seven-year judge in the contest, emphasized how inspiring it is to see how young people engage with conservation issues through art:

"Each year, the contest brings fresh perspectives and renewed hope for the future of wildlife protection.

“The challenges that our planet and wildlife face seem to grow ever more dire, yet when I see the passion of these young artists and look at the innovation that the next generation is bringing to the world through new technologies and a heightened awareness of our dependency on nature, I remain hopeful."

Last year, the contest received over 3,000 entries from 141 countries, showcasing the extraordinary talent and passion of young conservationists across the globe. Winners were recognized for their creativity and commitment to the theme of biodiversity protection through art, helping raise awareness about endangered species and the urgent need for conservation.

For more details and submission guidelines, visit https://www.ifaw.org/wwd-art-contest.

//ENDS

Visual assets courtesy of IFAW can be viewed and downloaded here: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/4PTCtrRmuu

Press contact: 

Stacey Hedman
Senior Communications Director 
m: +1 508 737 2558 
e: shedman@ifaw.org