Sketch for Survival

Sketch for Survival, the Explorers Against Extinction Exhibition returns to the Norwich School Crypt Gallery, Cathedral Close from Thursday 16th September.

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Sketch for Survival, organised by Happisburgh-based conservation charity, Explorers Against Extinction returns to the Norwich School Crypt Gallery, Cathedral Close from Thursday 16th September.

The art initiative, which raises awareness about conservation issues including the Illegal Wildlife Trade and the impact of Climate Change on biodiversity,  is now in its fifth year. 

To date, the annual online auction of art and photography by the charity has also raised over $250,000 USD directly for frontline conservation projects.

This year Explorers Against Extinction is supporting 21 small projects impacted by the collapse of ecotourism as a result of the global pandemic. These projects cover all seven continents and range from the forest to the ocean.

The exhibition in Norwich will provide an exclusive preview of the much-anticipated 2021 collection before visiting COP26 - the 26th UN Climate Change Conference being held in Glasgow, followed by a fortnight at gallery@oxo on London's South Bank in November.

All the species featured in the Sketch for Survival collection are listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List – the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species. Most have a categorisation of  Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered which means they face a high risk of extinction in the wild. 

Sketches, illustrations and studio artworks range from traditional mediums in oil and watercolour to contemporary street art and mixed media. 

Co-founder and trustee of Explorers Against Extinction Sara White said: "When we started Sketch for Survival back in 2017 an elephant was getting poached for its ivory every 26 minutes, on average.  Africa's savanna elephant population had crashed by more than 60% in 50 years,  and forest elephants by more than 80% in 30 years. We wanted to highlight shocking statistics like these,  through art.  Sketches in particular provide a powerful visual cue, reminding us that there is limited time to get the job done. " 

If you can't make it to the Norwich exhibition, all the artworks in the collection will be available to view online from 1 October,  and to bid for in the online fundraising auction which concludes on 28 November with all proceeds going to the Project Fund.If you are able to visit the exhibition you’ll also be treated to an exclusive preview of artwork by the 2020 Sketch for Survival Wildlife 100 Artist of the Year, Emma Swift,  and 2019 runner-up Alan R. Stanton from Norfolk.  Swift and Stanton have each been invited to create a special collection of 21 artworks for Explorers Against Extinction, inspired by, and for sale in support of the 21 small conservation projects being supported by the charity this year. Just five by each artist will be on show in Norwich. For more details visit explorersagainstextinction.co.ukor contact sara@explorersagainstextinction.co.uk

Sketch for Survival

Norwich School Crypt Gallery,

Cathedral Close

Norwich NR1 4DD

Thursday 16th - Thursday 23rd September 2021Open daily 10am - 4pm (closed Sunday)

Admission Free