ROYAL OAK, Mich., June 1, 2006 - In the spirit of celebrating and saving wildlife, the Detroit Zoological Institute is inviting young artists to express their creativity and talent in the “Zoos Save the World” children’s art competition and exhibition. 

The Detroit Zoo is teaming up with Russia’s Tula Exotarium and Finland’s Helsinki Zoo for the international competition, which supports the ongoing commitment to conservation of animals at zoos. 

Children ages 12 to 16 are eligible to participate in this creative opportunity.  Submitted artwork should reflect how the artists see the future of zoos and should feature rare or endangered species of animals from the Detroit Zoo.

Entries must be on 8.5” x 11” or 11” x 14” standard-sized white paper.  Any media will be accepted, including watercolor, pen and ink, charcoal, pastel, crayon, pencil, or marker. 

The back of each entry must indicate the title of the work, the name and age of the artist, and the community in which the artist resides.  An additional sheet of paper containing the title of the work, the artist’s name, address, telephone number, and contact person must be attached to each entry.

Artwork can be submitted by mail or hand-delivered to:  Curator of Education – Arts, Ford Education Center, Detroit Zoo, 8450 W. 10 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48068.  All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on June 15 to be considered for the competition.

Up to 100 pieces of art will be selected by the education staff of the Detroit Zoo for inclusion in the international exhibition.  The top three entrants will be presented with an award from the Detroit Zoo, and all participants selected for the international exhibition will receive certificates of merit.  Submitted artwork will not be returned.

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization responsible for the operations of the Detroit Zoological Institute, comprised of the Detroit Zoo and the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Founded in 1928, the Institute is committed to celebrating and saving wildlife.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily April through October, with extended hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August.  Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 398-0900 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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