Artists For Conservation announce Pollyanna Pickering Award
We are proud and honoured to announce that the world’s leading international wildlife art group Artists for Conservation (AFC), have announced the inauguration of the Pollyanna Pickering Endangered Species Award.
An international non-profit organisation based in Canada AFC (Formally known as Worldwide Nature Artists) has members from over 30 countries. Their mission is to support conservation and environmental education through art that celebrates nature. Through festivals, exhibits, collaborative art projects, art-science expeditions, awards, publications, films and leading online initiatives, they engage, inspire and inform the public, and empower passionate professional artists as effective ambassadors for the environment. AFC’s Vision is to lead a global artistic movement that inspires individuals and organisations to preserve and sustain our natural heritage by uniting the talent and passion of the world’s most gifted nature artists.
The Pollyanna Pickering Endangered Species Award reflects how closely aligned Pollyanna’s ethos was to that of the AFC – and is set to be recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious awards to be bestowed in the field of wildlife art.
Anna-Louise commented “I am so moved that the AFC are honouring Pollyanna by naming this award in her memory. It is wonderful to know that her name will continue to provide inspiration and recognition to other talented wildlife artists. Pollyanna always felt she had a very strong connection with the AFC – from undertaking her flag expedition into Bhutan to acting as patron of the annual art festival – and I know that this tribute would mean a very great deal to her. The combined ethos of exploration, conservation and artistic skill embodied by this award reflects perfectly Pollyanna’s ultimate aim for her own work, and I know it will form a key part of her legacy.”
Pollyanna had strong links with the AFC for many years, since being invited to join them as a signature member in 2005. In 2007 she received a fellowship from the Group in support of her landmark expedition into the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan (pictured above) Pollyanna was the first woman ever to be granted a fellowship by the group – and the first artist to be selected from outside Canada or North America. Pollyanna acted as an ambassador for AFC throughout the journey, and carried their expedition flag. Her sketch journal was subsequently published by the society, and officially launched in New York at an exhibition of work inspired by her journeys. She was the winner of their prestigious Simon Combes award for Conservation through Artistic Excellence, bestowed at a gala dinner in Canada in 2012 and in 2014 acted as patron of their annual art festival in Vancouver. Most recently in 2017 she was proud to represent the society at an international wildlife art exhibition and conservation festival in China.
Anna-Louise was delighted to be asked to help select the award winning artwork – which will be announced at their international festival in Vancouver in September. The trophy itself will be presented at a gala event at the AFC exhibition at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum in America in January 2022, which will feature the winning painting.