WetlandCare Australia National Art and Photography Competition 2010

To celebrate World Wetlands Day 2010 on 2nd February, WetlandCare Australia is hosting its 3rd annual Australia-wide art competition, offering categories for children and adults.

The competition...

The categories in the Competition have been designed to give as many people as possible the opportunity to submit entries. The categories are:

Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Open Art
1st Prize: $1250
Central West Catchment Management Authority Children's Art Senior (ages 12-17)
1st Prize: $1000 & an Art Supply kit, including papers and paints
Murray-Darling Basin Authority Children's Art Junior (ages 4-11)
1st Prize: $1000 & an Art Supply kit, including papers and paints
NSW Department of Environment Climate Change and Water Open Photography
1st Prize: $1250
Children's Photography (ages 4-17)
1st Prize $1000 & a Steve Parish book pack

All artworks and photographs must be on paper, unframed and up to A3 in size.
All categories of the competition are acquisitive; reproductions of the winning entries of the WetlandCare Australia National Art and Photography Competition may be used by WetlandCare Australia to promote wetlands, and the work of WetlandCare Australia.

The winning Artworks and Photography may also be used by WetlandCare Australia to develop products for fundraising purposes.
Reproductions of the winning entries may be used by major sponsors in their media and promotions, with the artists always being recognised by name.

The artist will always be acknowledged wherever a work is reproduced.
See the Rules of the Competition, available with the Entry Forms below, for more information.

What are wetlands?

Wetlands in Australia are incredibly diverse, and include; swamps and bogs, beaches, rocky shores, mudflats, subterranean caves, farm dams, rivers and creeks, springs and soaks, floodplains, lakes, estuaries, inshore coastal/ marine environments to 6m depth, as well as urban wetlands that can occur right in densely populated areas and provide habitat for urban wildlife. With such a diverse subject as wetlands, there is enough material for all artists everywhere!

The theme of World Wetlands Day 2010 is 'Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change', and this is also the theme of the art competition. Works related to wetlands generally will also be accepted.
The theme for World Wetlands Day 2010 is designed to encourage everyone to think about what climate change may mean for wetland biodiversity on a local, national and global scale. Biodiversity means the diversity of all life forms in a particular habitat or region.

Wetlands are essential, not only as an intrinsic component of balanced ecosystems and sustainable catchments, but also because they provide services to human society and biodiversity generally. The solutions our planet needs require creativity and new ideas - a great opportunity to link art and environment!

Enter now!

Further information and conditions of entry (including the Rules of the Competition) for the WetlandCare Australia National Art and Photography Competition 2010 are located with the entry forms for the respective categories.
Please print out and fill in the entry forms and post them with your artwork and photographs.

Click here to download a print-friendly version of the ART entry form

Click here to download a print-friendly version of the PHOTOGRAPHY entry form

The winning works from the 2009 competition can be viewed in the online gallery. Click here to see the gallery

WetlandCare Australia would like to thank the Sponsors for their generous support

Major Sponsors 2010

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is responsible for planning the integrated management of water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin. The Authority absorbed all the functions of the former Murray-Darling Basin Commission which ceased to exist in December 2008.

Headed by Chief Executive Rob Freeman, the Authority's central task is to develop an Basin Plan which will include sustainable diversion limits (based on the best available science), an environmental watering plan, a water quality and salinity management plan and water trade rules.

A draft will be released for discussion and consultation in 2010 and the final going to the Commonwealth Government in 2011.

For more information go to www.mdba.gov.au

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) works towards a healthy environment cared for and enjoyed by the whole NSW community.

DECCW undertakes a range of conservation and natural resources science and programs, including native vegetation, biodiversity and environmental water recovery, to provide an integrated approach to natural resource management and the challenges presented by climate change.
One role of DECCW includes environmental water management to ensure that people in NSW are able to enjoy our natural coastal and estuary environments.

The Central West Catchment Management Authority (CMA) provides support and education to people and industries to improve the management of natural resources within the central west catchment of NSW. The Central West CMA area covers the Macquarie, Castlereagh and Bogan River catchments, and includes the internationally recognised Macquarie Marshes.

WATER for the FUTURE
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Preparing Australia for a future with less water

Water for the Future is the Australian Government's 10-year, $12.9 billion initiative to prepare Australia for a future with less water. Water for the Future is built on four key priorities:

taking action on climate change
using water wisely
securing water supplies
supporting healthy rivers and wetlands.

Water for the Future is delivered by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

CSIRO DISCOVERY

The CSIRO Discovery centre, located in Canberra, is an award-winning, purpose-built complex for research, education and for the involvement and engagement of the Australian community in CSIRO's activities. It consists of two floors of working research laboratories; a major, interactive exhibition about CSIRO; the Green Machine Science Education Centre, a cafeteria and other meetings and conference facilities. All are set within a tropical garden atrium.

The philosophy behind CSIRO Discovery is for the communication and education of actual science research - its outcomes and achievements for Australia. CSIRO Discovery is intentionally aimed at a public audience above 12 years of age, although many aspects of the centre also appeal to younger age groups. Schoolchildren are an important target audience and these touring groups to Canberra now visit CSIRO Discovery from every state and territory in Australia throughout the school year. Discovery is open to the public every day except Saturdays.