Art contest set for conservation stamp

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has partnered with Historic Cane Hill to spread awareness for northern bobwhite conservation in Arkansas by creating a special art contest to determine the image to be placed on the next edition of the Arkansas northern bobwhite conservation stamp.

“We relied on Game and Fish artist Greta James for the inaugural stamp’s artwork and paid other professional artists for the following two stamps, but there was always the thought that an art contest similar to what is done for the federal duck stamp could add even more awareness to quail conservation in Arkansas,” said Marcus Asher, Game and Fish quail program coordinator.

Artists have until midnight Feb. 20 to submit original artwork to be considered for the stamp. Artists 12 and older are welcome to submit. The contest will have three judges to compare different aspects of the work submitted.

“We’ll have an expert on habitat, an expert on quail biology and a professional artist judge based on all components of the stamp,” Asher said. “The winner will be announced April 15 on-site at Historic Cane Hill.”

In addition to being displayed on the next iteration of the Arkansas northern bobwhite conservation stamp, the winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize.

Game and Fish has used the funds from the bobwhite stamp and turkey stamp to match many grants and work with partners, such as the National Wild Turkey Federation, to complete more than $1.6 million worth of habitat work in Arkansas.

Visit www.historiccanehillar.org/quailstamp2022 for more information on the contest.