Climate Change

Climate change is the greatest environmental threat the world currently faces. Extreme weather disasters are at an all time high with 16 recorded in the 1960s and 70 during the 1990s, with the early part of the 21st century showing an even greater number of disasters. Today there is clear water at the North Pole in place of pack ice and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are higher now than at any time in the previous 20 million years.

Latest estimates indicate that the hole in the ozone layer is approximately 9.2 million square miles.

Species Extinction

An accelerating decline in species has led some experts to predict that the Earth is on the verge of a mass extinction - this one will be the first global wipe-out, caused by another species, with humans the dominant agent of destruction!

The world's $100 billion timber industry is running out of control, helped by the global market and fuelled by greed. Deforestation is wiping out plants and animal species, increasing soil erosion and flooding and contributing to 'global' warming. Commercial logging is believed to be responsible for the extinction of tens of thousands of species each year in tropical forests alone.

95% of all animals and plants that have ever lived on earth have now become extinct.

Brazil holds about one third of the world's remaining Rain Forest. Between 2000 and 2005 nearly 35,000 square kilometers of the Rain Forest were lost.

A comprehensive study on coral reefs, which support over 60% of the world's fish stocks and in fact occupy a much smaller area of the planet than previously thought (about half the size of France), warns that many of these ecosytems face extinction because of rising sea temperatures and human pressures.

Sustainability

The Earth's supply of natural resources may only be able to sustain 2 billion humans by 2100 - not good news for a global population that currently stands at 6.4 billion and is expected to reach 8.9 by 2050, by which time the population in the 50 poorest countries will have tripled in size. Half a billion people already live in countries that are water-scarce and this is expected to triple in the next 20 years.

In 1998 about 137 million humans were born and some 53 million died. This net gain of 84 million represents more than 230,000 additional residents reliant on the Earth’s resources every day of the year - can our fragile planet survive?

Some experts predict that, with current trends, in 50 years time human beings will consume twice as many resources than the planet can replace every year.

Every two weeks, more human babies are born in Africa than the number of elephants remaining in the wild on the entire African continent.

It took the entire history of human life until 1830 to reach a world population of one billion people. Now we are adding one billion people a decade to our current world population of over 6 billion.

Earth is 46 hundred million years old. Scale this down to 46 years, then modern man has been around for four hours and the industrial revolution began one minute ago. During those seconds, man has multiplied his numbers to plague proportions, ransacked the planet for fuels and raw materials and caused the extinction of countless species

On average, every minute of the day, 274 people are born and 97 die. 177 extra people every minute means 93 million people each year. The vast majority of them are in third world countries that are least equipped to manage such growth. In ecological terms, it is not the simple population statistics that count, but the number of people multiplied by their average age consumption of energy and resources. The average US citizen consumes at least 50 times as much as the average Kenyan.

China reportedly has 1 million car owners. In ten years, this figure is estimated to rise to a staggering 200 million.

The top 300 multinational corporations own 25% of the world's production resources. Incomes of the top ten surpass the collective gross national product of 100 of the world's smallest nations.

The world's wealthiest 200 companies saw their profits grow by 362.4% between 1984 and 2004. Their collective sales are now higher than the combined gross domestic product of all but ten nations on earth. Since the top four US oil companies recently merged, their profits have soared by 146% - during what we were told was an "energy crisis".

5% of the world's population use up to 25% of the entire planet’s energy resources and the wealthier 16%, (mostly the US, Europe & Japan) use up to 80% of the worlds goods. Yet, as you read this, 1.3 billion people can't even have a glass of clean water.

With less than 5% of the world's human population, the United States consumes 25% of the world's resources and is responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. President Barack Obama is attending Copenhagen Climate talks in December 2009 and has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Habitat Loss

A unique satellite-based survey of the planets remaining closed forests, including virgin, old growth and naturally-regenerated woodlands, has found that over 80% are located in just 15 countries. The survey reveals that a surprising 88% are sparsely populated, for example the pressure from human population growth is low in Bolivia and Peru whilst in India and China the forests require urgent protection efforts.

Brazil holds about one third of the world's remaining Rain Forest. Between 2000 and 2005 nearly 35,000 square kilometers of the Rain Forest were lost.

On average you would probably find ten species of tree in a hectare of English woodland. In the same area in an Indonesian forest, there would be over 250 tree species.

70% of the Earth is covered by water but less than 25% is freshwater. Only 0.25% of this freshwater is actually accessible with the rest stored deep underground or in ice. Much of this accessible water is stored in wetlands and yet over 50% of these areas have been destroyed in the last 100 years.

A comprehensive study on coral reefs, which support over 60% of the world's fish stocks and in fact occupy a much smaller area of the planet than previously thought (about half the size of France), warns that many of these ecosytems face extinction because of rising sea temperatures and human pressures.

Pollution

Approximately 6.5 million tonnes of litter finds its way into the worlds ocean's each year.

Studies have indicated that increasing ultra violet radiation (UVR) has limited the production of phytoplankton, the bottom of the food chain, by up to 23% which may have catastrophic consequences for species within the eco-system. After months of winter darkness, the first shafts of light signal the start of the Antarctic spring. Single-celled phytoplankton bloom underneath the melting ice floes. They are the basis of the marine food web and especially vulnerable to the effects of UVR. These 'floating gardens' supply the food for 500-700 million tonnes of krill which feeds at least 120 species of fish, 80 species of seabirds, six species of seals and 15 species of whale.

Can anyone enter the competition?

Anyone who is over 17 years old when they completed their artwork can enter. The competition is open worldwide to both amateur and professional artists alike and the judges will not distinguish between them. Entries must be completed by the entrant themselves and must be their own original work. Artists using exact reference from another professional artist or photographer risk having their work marked down.

Does it matter when I completed the artwork?

Yes, you must have completed your artwork within the 5 years prior to the deadline so you cannot enter any artwork that you completed before 21st January 2008.

How much does it cost to enter?

Entry for DSWF members is £10 and for non-members £25 per entry. Entry for ‘Young & Wild’ category is also £10 (17 – 25 year olds only). If you would like to become a member please see www.davidshepherd.org or telephone 01483 272323.

How many times can I enter the competition?

There is no limit. You may enter as many pieces of artwork as you would like to at either £10 or £25 per entry as above.

I have taken some great photographs, can I enter them?

No, this is not a photographic competition and any photographs will be disqualified.

I have sold my original, can I still enter a copy of my original artwork?

No – the work you submit has to be the original and it must be available for sale if shortlisted for the exhibition.

Which mediums are allowed?

The judges accept any medium (excluding photography and film and electronically created artwork) in any style – oil, acrylic, watercolour, pencil, mixed media, bronze, plaster, wire, collage, traditional, abstract, black & white – the list is endless and the choice is yours.

Which category should I enter?

It is up to you to decide which of the seven categories you want to enter. However, when the judges are looking at all of the entries they may change the category you have entered if they feel your artwork is best judged in a different category.

How do I enter?

If you have an electronic image of your artwork (jpeg for pc file), we encourage you to follow the online entry process on our website at www.davidshepherd.org. We will also accept postal entries. If you are unable to enter online please download the ‘Postal Entry Form’ from the website or telephone 01483 272323 and we will send you one. We scan hard copies of photographs on receipt but please note this may affect the quality so it is best if you can send a jpeg file on a CD. If entering a 3D piece of work we recommend you send at least 3 different angles. If entering 3D through our website, please either upload a single jpeg showing multiple angles or upload a jpeg with one angle, and follow this up with an email to way@davidshepherd.org with more jpeg images. Please include in this email Artist Name, Artwork Title and Order Reference Number.

When is the closing date?

21st January 2013. Website entry closes at midnight (21st/22nd) and postal entries must be received by 5pm on 21st January 2013.

Do I, the artist, retain copyright?

Yes, copyright will remain with the artist. DSWF may wish to reproduce the artwork for any purpose in connection with the competition including publicity, marketing, fundraising and exhibitions. DSWF also has the first option/right to publish a limited edition print of the work by agreement with the artist up until the end 2013. This does not apply to sculpture.

When will you need my original artwork?

We will only require your original artwork if it is shortlisted for the summer exhibition. The judging takes place in spring 2013 and we will notify all entrants as soon as possible.

What is ‘Selected but not Hung’?

We have a large number of entries and can only accept a certain amount for exhibition.. Those which the judges would like to select but did not feel quite made the final selection for exhibition are ‘Selected but not Hung’. This means they are shown in a folder at the exhibition and on our website but are not selected to hang at the exhibition. These will be available for sale at a split of 70% to the artist and 30% to DSWF for wildlife projects.

When is the exhibition?

Once the judging has taken place, the successful artists will be advised of the exact time and location of the exhibition, along with delivery and collection dates. The exhibition will be held at a London gallery in early June 2013.

Will my artwork be returned to me?

By entering the competition you agree to your artwork being available for sale at the summer exhibition, if selected, and sale proceeds will be split 50/50 between DSWF for wildlife projects and the individual artist. We aim to notify all artists whose work has sold as soon as possible, and all artists should have provisions in place to collect their work should it not sell at the exhibition. You will be notified of delivery and collection dates when you are sent your agreement form for the exhibition. Please note that neither DSWF nor the Gallery where the artworks are shown can store your artwork for you, and anything left uncollected at the end of the exhibition may be subject to a storage charge. Artwork not collected within two months of the end of the exhibition will be sold in support of DSWF with 100% going to conservation projects

I have entered my painting before, can I enter it again?

No, the judges will not accept any artwork that has been entered in previous years.

My artwork has been entered into/selected for/is currently in another exhibition – can I still enter?

You can enter other exhibitions as long as your artwork remains available for exhibiting and sale should you be selected for Wildlife Artist of the Year 2013. By signing our Agreement Form you agree to your artwork being available for sale by DSWF during our exhibition.

Is my artwork covered under DSWF insurance?

No, you must arrange your own insurance to cover both transportation to and from the exhibition and also while in the exhibition.

Entries must be completed by the artist within the last five years by the entrants themselves and must be their own original work. Artists using exact reference from another professional artist or photographer risk having their work marked down (or disqualified) . For further information please see the Rules & Conditions of entry on our website or contact us by email on way@davidshepherd.org or telephone 01483 272323.

Good Luck!