World's Top Nature Artists Flock to Canada's Grouse Mountain for Conservation Festival

Marketwired

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct 2, 2012) - One of the world''s largest gatherings in art and conservation will take place at Vancouver''s Grouse Mountain this October as 40 of the world''s leading nature and wildlife artists from around the globe assemble for the second annual Artists for Conservation Festival. Some of the most pressing issues in conservation, including the harvesting of sharks and the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline in the Great Bear Rainforest will be discussed at the festival, which runs October 13 through October 21.

"It is a real privilege and thrill to have dozens of internationally-recognized artists convening here in Vancouver, Canada again in support of conservation," said Jeff Whiting, founder of Artists for Conservation. "It is truly a unique cultural event in the world today, featuring a major world-class art exhibit and extensive environmental education programming for all ages."

Renowned artist and long-time AFC member, Robert Bateman will give an opening address and 11-year-old singer and activist Ta''Kaiya Blaney, from the Sliammon First Nation will perform on opening weekend. Visitors will have the opportunity to see 90 original artworks, by 80 artists including an oil painting of an endangered Amur Leopard created by Robert Bateman exclusively for the festival. There will be registered art workshops for students and adults, guest lectures, film and live painting demonstrations. AFC and Grouse Mountain have donated a number of tickets to help at-risk and underserved youth attend the festival.

An encore presentation of Dr. Guy Harvey''s This is Your Ocean: Sharks will screen opening weekend with a brief talk on shark-finning with marine biologist and artist Brent Cooke. The world premiere of The Soysamby Legacy: Art and Conservation in Africa''s Rift Valley will also debut in Grouse Mountain''s Theatre In The Sky.

"The Artists for Conservation Festival is a perfect fit for Grouse Mountain''s Refuge for Endangered Wildlife''s shared goals of conservation and preservation of at risk wildlife and plants," said Dr. Ken Macquisten, Grouse Mountain veterinarian and refuge director. "Art can have a powerful emotional impact and this festival will undoubtedly help increase public awareness around the importance of protecting the world''s most vulnerable species and environments."

The Artists for Conservation Festival opens to the public at 10 a.m. October 13, 2012. Most of the Festival programming is free with Grouse Mountain General Admission. A private black-tie fundraising gala will precede the opening celebrations on Friday, October 12, 2012. Funds raised from the gala and artwork sales during the event will support Artists for Conservation''s year-round art and environmental education programming as well as other conservation organizations around the globe.

For more information visit http://artistsforconservation.org/festival.

Artists for Conservation (AFC) is the world''s leading group of artists supporting the environment. Founded in 1997, the non-profit organization comprises a membership of 500 of the world''s most gifted nature artists from 27 countries, across five continents. Dedicated to nurture, promote and leverage its world-class community of artists in support of our natural world, AFC drives its mission through three key programs: Art & Environmental Education; Field Work & Research; and Artist Development. The Artists for Conservation Festival is AFC''s annual flagship initiative to showcase, support and further these programs. For more information, visit www.artistsforconservation.org.