Sketching a future for elephants – the 26 minute artworks with a wildlife conservation message

Sketch for Survival is a touring wildlife art exhibition and affordable art auction in aid of wildlife conservation organised by the Real World Conservation Trust (registered UK charity No 1177505).

On average one African elephant is poached for its tusks in the wild every 26 minutes. Sketch for Survival aims to raise awareness about species extinction as well as raising vital funds for nominated conservation projects through the medium of art.

The curated exhibition comprises over 300 26 minute sketches and other artworks donated by acclaimed professional artists from 22 different countries, as well as artworks by celebrity supporters including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Dame Helen Mirren, Mary Berry, Stephen Fry, Richard E Grant and Frederick Forsyth. Artwork features some of the world’s most endangered species including polar bears, pangolins, tigers, orangutans, rhinos and elephants.

The exhibition is touring the UK and also visiting New York in the US this autumn before being auctioned in aid of nominated conservation projects.

The primary 2018 project is to assist non-profit African Parks establish a new anti-poaching canine unit in Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. Garamba, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been hard hit by poaching. The most iconic residents of this ancient park, the elephants, have suffered and a canine unit will better equip Garamba’s teams to effectively address threats.

Garamba’s elephants are currently being poached at an alarming rate and the park is experiencing negative population growth. In the 1970s there were as many as 22,000 elephants in Garamba but today only around 1200 remain.

To find out more about the projects being supported please visit Explorers against Extinction.

Sketch for Survival exhibition

Sketch for Survival will tour to a seven venues offering the public 20 days to see this unprecedented wildlife art collection.

Prestigious venues include gallery@oxo on London's South Bank, where the exhibition will be open for 5 days with free admission this October, and both The Explorers Club and Salmagundi Club in Manhatten, New York in November. The Salmagundi Club is one of the oldest art organisations in the United States and the exhibition will be open for 3 days in the club’s historic Parlour.

Other UK venues include Walcot Chapel Gallery in Bath and the Crypt Gallery in Norwich’s Cathedral Close. In Harrogate the exhibition is a feature of the Wildlife & Safari Show at Harrogate Convention Centre, a new weekend travel show dedicated to showcasing the world’s best wildlife and conservation holidays. Sketch for Survival will also be a feature of the Conde Nast Luxury Travel Fair at London’s Olympia which is co-located with the popular Spirit of Christmas show.

Trustee of RWCT Sara White says, “We are very excited about this year’s collection and the ability it has to raise awareness about the threats faced by many iconic species worldwide, from habitat loss to illegal wildlife crime. The quality and variety of artwork is fantastic. For wildlife lovers the exhibition is an absolute must-visit and a fantastic opportunity to help safeguard a future for elephants."

RWCT have a fund-raising target of $50,000.

For more details about Sketch for Survival please contact Sara White sara@realafrica.co.uk 01603 964985 or visit http://www.explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/sketch-for-survival-2018

Note to editors

• RWCT is the successor to Real Africa Trust (registered charity no 1149508). The new entity aims to work on wildlife conservation projects worldwide.
• Sketch for Survival is part of a wider conservation campaign called Explorers against Extinction. The campaign also includes a free, fun initiative called Selfie for Survival which is designed to specifically raise awareness about the role of wildlife protection dogs.
• Last year Sketch for Survival successfully funded rhino protection dogs for key black rhino breeding areas in Africa, including the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. They also donated $25,000 to a pioneering elephant rescue, rehabilitation and release project run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.