SKETCH FOR SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL ART COMPETITION 2023
Sketch for Survival helps to raise vital awareness about species extinction and biodiversity loss while also raising funds for projects around the world.
Just 100 finalists are selected from all competition entries received and ‘win’ a place on our prestigious Sketch for Survival fundraising exhibition tour.
The submission phase runs from 1 February to 30 June annually. The selection phase is July-August. Exhibitions run September-November.
Anyone aged 17 and over can enter (children aged 16 and under can enter our Sketch For Survival Junior Competition);
There are two categories: Endangered Wildlife and At-risk Wild Spaces (please see full guidelines below regarding what you can enter);
The closing date is 30 June;
Our expert selection panel is led by Internationally renowned artist Gary Hodges;
There are 3 stages to the competition:
Stage 1 – Enter Online: submissions open 1 February and close 30 June
Anyone can enter – it is free to enter. Please ensure your artwork meets the criteria or it will be discounted.
Stage 2 – First Results Announced: selected artworks to be shipped to Explorer HQ in Norfolk, UK. The selection process is initially done by our panel online using the submission form and artwork image provided. The results from the first phase of judging will be announced on our website on Thursday 13 July. Successful artists will be asked to ship their original artwork to us here in the UK so the judges can take a closer look at them.
These pieces are guaranteed a spot in either our Exhibition collection or the Highly Commended collection.
Stage 3 – Final Collections Announced: the panel review all the artworks they requested in stage 2 and make their final decisions. This stage is done in person at Explorer HQ over several days in August. The Exhibition collection and the Highly Commended collection will be announced on our website on Thursday 7 September.
- The Exhibition collection comprises 100 finalists, as chosen by the panel – these will be exhibited at London’s gallery@oxo on the South Bank & Edinburgh’s Dundas Street Gallery before being sold in our online fundraising auction.
- The Highly Commended collection includes all the runner-ups from Stage 2 – these will be offered for sale in aid of our projects in our pop up shops and also in our online gallery after the conclusion of our tour.
Awards:
The 100 finalists in our Exhibition Collection are eligible for our annual awards which include the Leisure Painter’s People’s Choice Award, an award voted for by the public; The Artist Award, chosen by the editorial team of The Artist magazine and the Sketch For Survival 100 Artist of the Year award, selected by our panel – the shortlist will be announced 14 September. Results in all categories will be announced at our awards event at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 9 November.
All participants will receive a digital Certificate of Participation.
Please note: no artworks can be returned.
Anyone aged 17 and older. If you are 16 or younger please see Sketch for Survival Junior here.
You can live anywhere in the world.
The competition is open to professional, amateur, hobby and student artists. It is free to enter.
Promoter: The Real World Conservation Trust. UK Charity 1177505. Registered Address: Happisburgh, Norwich, Norfolk, NR12 0QQ
CLICK HERE FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AND PARTICIPATION