The 3rd Annual Call for Artists is back! Here is everything you need to know:

The Call for Artists is back and submissions are OPEN! The theme this year is #OurWildWorld!

One of our favorite fundraisers is happening NOW to raise $13,000 to build an Education Center at our Release Site in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica! Our Release Site is integral to our mission of getting animals back in the wild and soon will be a hub for community education.

What is Call for Artists?

An art contest and fundraiser! All ages and abilities are welcome to virtually submit visual art that follows the theme “Our Wild World”. There will be a youth category for under 17 and an adult category for 18+. We will post the submissions on our MightyCause campaign page where people will vote for their favorite art by donating: $1=1 vote (with a minimum vote of $5).

The winning artwork will be the ones with the most votes, so get your network involved! Tell your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers to vote for your artwork and all funds raised will go towards building the education center! All votes/donations are tax-deductible!

In 2020, Toucan Rescue Ranch held its 2nd annual Call for Artists. During that campaign, we raised $10,799 with 163 donors from all over the world to help us regain our footing and care for animals in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic! Our goal this year is $13,000 and we know you can help us get there!

Why build an Education Center?

Our Release Site is located on the Caribbean slope where you will find a lot of the country’s farmland, agriculture, and rich biodiversity! Most of the rescued animals that Toucan Rescue Ranch receives are from this area and fall victim to human-animal conflict including electrocutions, car accidents, agrochemicals, and loss of habitat. The new education center will focus on educating the local community on the importance of preserving biodiversity by mitigating these human-animal conflicts.

When farmers can avoid conflicts with wildlife in the first place, they can focus more on the work at hand and the animals can be protected. When dogs and cats are kept away from sloths and other wild animals, it can save them both a trip to the vet. A win-win for everyone!

The education center will be an amazing place to host schools, families, and other larger groups! In addition to implementing important conservation strategies, we aim to inspire young minds to carry a deep love for nature with them for the rest of their lives!

What makes this year different from 2020

We are also participating in a larger fundraising campaign called “A Community Thrives” put on by the USA Today Network and the Gannett Foundation!

Participating organizations have until August 12th at 9 PM EST to raise as many funds as they can and top campaigns can qualify for additional grants, with up to $200,000 in additional funds available!

You can help us qualify for these bonus grants by helping us raise the most money and/or by helping us receive the most unique campaign donors!

GUIDELINES | How to participate as an artist:

Follow the theme “Our Wild World”
Fill out our entry form
Photography will not be accepted, as we have a photography fundraiser, TRR Share Your Shot!
Minors will need parental consent to enter.
You can enter only once!
Share with your friends and family so they can vote for your artwork by donating on the campaign page here
We will manually post submissions to the fundraiser gallery when we receive them, so they won’t be available immediately.
The earlier you submit your entry, the more time it will be available for votes!
SUBMISSIONS CLOSE on August 3rd at 10 pm Costa Rica time (Midnight EST).

How to vote/donate as a supporter:

Visit our campaign page
View our “Update” gallery of artist submissions.
Donate the number of votes that you want.
Include the title/name of the artist of your choice upon check out.
VOTING CLOSES August 12th at 7 pm Costa Rica time (9 pm EST)