Our Programs
Artists for Conservation programs are unique in concept and exist to further our mission to support environmental conservation work through art that celebrates our natural heritage. Through this website - ArtistsForConservation.org - and our programs, we engage, inspire and inform the public, and empower passionate professional artists as effective ambassadors for the environment.
ArtistsForConservation.org is the main portal that supports and promotes all our AFC programs and features several thousand pieces of original and limited edition nature inspired artwork. With over 8,000 original paintings and hundreds of original sculptures for sale valued collectively at over US$30 million, the AFC website is the largest, most sophisticated and most visited site of its kind. It is also the largest and most comprehensive nature art news and events listing resource anywhere.
Artists for Conservation holds an annual festival in Vancouver, BC. It's a one-of-a-kind, international cultural event supporting and celebrating nature at one of the most spectacular venues on the planet in Vancouver, BC Canada. It's a highly anticipated event in the nature-inspired art field including AFC's annual world's top conservation-themed art exhibit with over 90 original artworks for sale in support of conservation, five documentary films about art and conservation, special lectures, live painting demos, adult/youth workshops, music and more.
Thanks to the generous support of our partners, sponsors and donors, AFC is able to develop and run numerous programs. Get involved with the AFC to support us in continuing our mission.
Annual Juried Exhibit (Live & Virtual)
AFC’s Annual Juried Exhibit – The Art of Conservation – recognizes artists for their commitment to artistic excellence and conservation, raises awareness of conservation issues, and directly supports conservation organizations through the sale of artwork. The AFC exhibit is the world's top conservation-themed art exhibit. The Art of Conservation Exhibit opening is held at the Artists for Conservation Festival in Vancouver, BC annually. The exhibit will feature over 85 original artworks for sale by over 80 leading nature and wildlife artists from around the world. The exhibit travels throughout the year across the North American in support of AFC's mission and conitnued awareness to conservation causes globablly. The exhibit of over 200 works can be seen through our virtual gallery online, please visit the Virtual Exhibit. Save the dates for 2018! August 22- 25 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC Visit the website learn more about the festival programs. |
Flag Expeditions & Explorers Program
AFC Flag Expeditions program facilitates collaborative art and science field work to study and promote endangered species and their vanishing habitats. The program uniquely supports artists seeking to explore the world’s remaining true wildernesses and to observe the rare or endangered species that live in those places. It fosters a broader representation of the world’s biodiversity in art by some of today’s most talented artists. Each year, AFC provides special fellowship grants to two artists in support of their expeditions to study, understand and then communicate important conservation issues around the world. AFC Flag Expedition #15 - Nov 1, 2016 - Jan 14, 2017 Artist, photographer and wildlife biologist, Sharon Schafer embarks on a journey. THAR: The Great Indian Desert: Promoting Global Environment Education through Fine Art, Photography and Science. Follow Sharon's Expedition Blog... Explorers Program will foster artistic and scientific collaboration in the field to drive awareness and education around marine conservation and land conservation. It will also provide opportunities for AFC artist members to study species and their ecology in the field under the guidance and expertise of leading scientists.
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Artists for Conservation Festival
The Artists for Conservation Festival is a signature international cultural event featuring art and environmental education, featuring the premier of AFC's annual exhibit, symposium, youth and adult workshops, live artist demos, gallery tours and wildlife viewing, First Nations performances and film. The Festival is held annually in Vancouver BC, Canada, featuring some of the leading nature and wildlife artists and naturalists from around the world. Visit the AFC Festival website for more informaiton. Save the dates for 2018! August 22- 25 at the Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, BC |
Youth Education
As part of the Artists for Conservation Festival, we offer a unique program connecting youth (gr 3-7) in the most inspiring of settings, with nature through art, and engaging them with leadership in environmental guardianship. The Silent Skies Student Mural Project is a youth education pilot program focused on conservation and the study of endangered species through research, art and community engagement. It specifically targets students grades 3 - 7. The program is free to participate in. Registeration is open to teachers in British Columbia, Canada. The student mural will be showcased at the 2018 Artists for Conservation Festival and the 27th International Ornithological Congress at Vancouver’s Convention Centre in August. Participate in AFC's 2018 "Silent Skies" Mural for Youth. Learn more |
AFC Annual Art & Conservation Symposium
As part of the Artists For Conservation Festival, we are excited to feature a series of lectures, workshops, live art demonstrations and public panel discussions relating to art, nature and conservation of our natural world. Presenters include AFC artists and guest speakers from around the world. Some of the world's best known nature-inspired artists and dedicated conservationists, such as Robert Bateman, John Seerey-Lester, Mark Hobson, Dr. Guy Harvey and Pollyanna Pickering will offer an impressive roster schedule of lectures, workshops and presentations. A detailed lecture schedule, including a list of presenters will be posted on the AFC Festival website. Read the program guide for details about last year's schedule. |
AFC Documentary Films
AFC proceduced it's first documentary film in 2011- "How an Artist Saved the Mountain Gorilla" - the pilot in a documentary series focused on the role of art and conservation. The first film featured Flag Expedition recipient Stephen Quinn and was produced in association with the American Museum of Natural History. AFC's documentary film series is featured at the AFC festival, special screenings, film festivals and tour venues. Featured film for the 2011 Festival was "How an Artist Saved the Mountain Gorilla: Retracing the Steps of Carl Akeley." Stephen Quinn's Flag Expedition to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. In October 2012, AFC will premiere its second inspiring documentary film "The Soysambu Legacy: Art and Conservation in Africa's Rift Valley" exclusively at the 2nd Artist For Conservation Festival in Vancouver. |
Art for Conservation
AFC’s Art for Conservation program provides an online venue for the sale of artwork with a portion of the proceeds voluntarily earmarked by the artists to support a conservation organization of their choice. Collectively under this program, several million dollars have been committed upon the sale of the artwork. |
Awards & Medals
AFC Awards exist to highlight excellence in conservation and art and to empower and reward passionate professional artists as effective ambassadors for the environment. We currently run four awards programs: the monthly Conservation Artist Award, the AFC Medal of Excellence, the Best in Show Award, and the yearly Simon Combes Conservation award. |
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Monthly Conservation Artist
AFC Honours Colin Starkevich
Conservation Artist of the Month for September, 2018
In 2009 Colin fell in love with the Grasslands region of southern Alberta. It was then when he realized he would likely be spending much of his time painting this region and sharing it with the world. The Grasslands region is a fragile and...