Spotlight on endangered species – Sketch for Survival 2018 to launch on World Rhino Day

Explorers against Extinction (registered UK charity No 1177505) is delighted to announce that this year’s wildlife conservation campaign will officially launch on World Rhino Day, 22 September.

From 22 September visitors to the Explorers against Extinction homepage will be able to browse the complete 2018 Sketch for Survival collection. Sketch for Survival, a hugely popular annual element of Explorers against Extinction, is a touring exhibition and auction of wildlife artwork with the primary purpose of raising awareness about global species extinction.

Currently, one African elephant is poached for its tusks in the wild every 26 minutes. In addition, all five species of rhino remain endangered. 40% of lion have been lost in the last 20 years while only 4,000 tigers are left in the Indian sub-continent – down from 40,000 a half century ago.

To highlight these shocking statistics, the charity asked professional artists and high-profile individuals to spend at least 26 minutes on a sketch or other original artwork of an endangered species. Profit from the auction of artwork is donated to nominated conservation projects pivotal in the battle against wildlife crime.

This year’s headline project is focused on elephant conservation in Africa. Explorers against Extinction will assist non-profit African Parks establish a new anti-poaching canine unit in World Heritage Garamba National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo. A second project, in Asia, will be announced on World Rhino Day.

The Sketch for Survival collection

This year’s Sketch for Survival collection is unprecedented, comprising over 400 artworks donated by leading professional wildlife artists and celebrity supporters. More than 60 rare species, some on the brink of extinction are represented including the critically endangered Amur Leopard, Mountain Gorilla, Vaquita, Hawksbill Turtle, Black Rhino, Orangutan and Saiga.

Artists in more than 30 different countries have participated including those from Iran, Pakistan, Australia, the US, India, Botswana and across Europe. Many of the participating artists are award-winning.

The collection also includes artworks by a group of talented students from Zimbabwe based art-charity, Arts for Africa, an initiative run by US artist A.E London.

Among the celebrity cohort there are three Oscar winners (Nick Park, Dame Judi Dench and Dame Helen Mirren), a best-selling international author (Frederick Forsyth), the world’s most famous living explorer (Sir Ranulph Fiennes) a well-known British comedian, writer and actor (Stephen Fry) and a BBC presenter and food writer (Mary Berry).

The Sketch for Survival exhibition tour

The Sketch for Survival collection will tour to seven different venues between 29 September and 25 November offering the public 20 days to see the artworks. Many of the exhibition venues offer free admission including prestigious gallery@oxo on London’s South Bank, part of Coin Street Community Builders, the Walcot Chapel Gallery, Bath and the Crypt Gallery in Norwich.

For the first time the tour will also travel to New York where one of America’s oldest art organisations, the Salmagundi Club, will host the collection for three days in November.

Two consumer travel shows will also showcase the charity art collection - one in Harrogate and one in London. The Wildlife and Safari Show, Harrogate Convention Centre runs 29/30 September. The Conde Nast Luxury Travel Fair, Olympia, London runs 1-4 November.

The Sketch for Survival auction

The online auction, which works in a similar way to eBay is powered by Explorers against Extinction partner iRostrum. Registration opens from 22 September, with the auction closing on the evening of Sunday 25 November.

Artworks start from just £25 plus delivery. Successful bidders will be contacted for payment in the days immediately after the auction with artworks, where possible, despatched for pre-Christmas delivery.

Explorers against Extinction has a fund-raising target of $80,000.

For more details about Explorers against Extinction and Sketch for Survival please contact Sara White sara@realafrica.co.uk 01603 964985 or visit http://www.explorersagainstextinction.co.uk

Note to editors

• Explorers against Extinction and Sketch for Survival are working names of the Real World Conservation Trust (UK charity No 1177505) the successor to the Real Africa Trust (registered charity no 1149508). The new entity aims to work on wildlife conservation projects worldwide.
• Last year Explorers against Extinction successfully funded rhino protection dogs for key black rhino breeding areas in Africa, in Botswana and Kenya. They also donated $25,000 to a pioneering elephant rescue, rehabilitation and release project run by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
• There were 161 artworks in the Sketch for Survival 2017 collection which sold for over $50,000