The VESS Dugong and seagrass handicraft and art Competition

Dugongs are charismatic marine mammals that are frequently seen in Vanuatu waters. Seagrass is vital to their survival and is a home to many marine animals. As part of the awareness activities of the Dugongs and Seagrass Conservation Project we would like to encourage artists to experiment with adding dugong and seagrass designs and add these pieces to their repertoire. We hope this art and handicrafts will inspire people to care for these magnificent creatures and their important seagrass habitat.

Categories

1. Carvings
2. Woven handicrafts or art
3. Paintings and drawings
4. Open*

*entries to the open category can be any art or handicraft that does not fall into the above categories e.g. fabrics clothing, jewelry, photographs etc.

Prize packs to the value of Vt10,000 for each category consisting of tools, art supplies and a Vt5000 voucher.

How to enter:

The handicrafts and art will be displayed at the VESS Threatened Species exhibition, which runs from the 26th February until 3rd March at the Espace Alliance Française. Bring your finished pieces, ready to display, to the exhibition on Monday 26th February BEFORE 3pm. Judging is at 4pm during the opening of the exhibition.

Terms and Conditions for the Dugong and Seagrass Handicraft and Art Competition.

1. All entries must contain depictions of dugongs and/or seagrass.
2. The competition is part of a dugong and seagrass conservation project. Part of this project is to raise awareness of dugongs and seagrasses throughout Vanuatu via a series of workshops. In these workshops VESS will be discussing dugongs as subjects of handicrafts and art. Images of the handicrafts and art entered into this competition will be shown during these workshops. They will also be uploaded to the VESS website. By entering this competition you are understood to have given permission for your designs and work to be shown in this way.
3. All entries should be brought to Espace Alliance Française between 9am and 3pm on Monday 26^th February. Any entries submitted after 3pm will not be included in the competition.
4. Entries must be ready to display. VESS does not provide framing.
5. All pieces are to be displayed at the Threatened Species Competition for the length of the exhibition from the 26^th February until 3^rd March 2018. Whist VESS will take all necessary precautions to protect the artwork during this time, artist display their art and handicrafts at their own risk.
6. Entries may be for sale or not for sale at the artists own discretion. Prices are to be set by the artist. No commission will be charged (but VESS would be appreciative of a donation if any pieces are sold). Sold items should remain on display until the end of the exhibition.
7. Prizes will be awarded at the discretion of VESS. That decision will be final.

The Dugong and Seagrass Project is executed by the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund with financing from the GEF, implementation support by UN Environment and technical support from the CMS Dugong MoU Secretariat. This is a global project, involving eight developing countries. VESS is implementing this project in Vanuatu in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation and the Vanuatu Fisheries Department.