News from the CEPA e-mail list

Communicating without words to learn about water and agriculture - art competition (31/03/06)

Good afternoon everyone:

Here’s some news about an art competition that may interest you or your colleagues. To explain the Ramsar involvement in this, here’s a little background before we talk about the competition.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (CA) is currently being carried out through a multi-institute process. Ramsar is a co-sponsor of the Assessment along with CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), FAO and the CBD. The CA aims to identify existing knowledge and stimulate thought on ways to manage water resources to continue meeting the needs of both humans and ecosystems. The results of the CA are intended to assist us in making better investment and management decisions on water resources now and in the future. You can read much more on the CA and what it intends to achieve here http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/index.htm.

One of many ways to raise awareness about the CA and its expected outputs is the art competition launched by a raft of partners (including the CA, Ramsar, SIWI, CBD, FAO, FANCA and others - apologies for the acronyms; please visit the web site above to figure out who’s who!).

There are some basic details below with further important information available at this URL: http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/newsroom/artcompetition-english_000.htm. Please write to comp.assess@cgiar.org and not to Ramsar if you have any questions about the competition.

Global Art competition: using art work to present the CAs messages on water for food and life. Communicating without words to learn about water and agriculture...

Why - The CA has been critically evaluating the benefits, costs, and impacts of the past 50 years of water development, the water management challenges communities are facing today, and solutions people have developed. The results will support better investment and management decisions in water and agriculture in the near future and over the next 50 years. The CA now wants to communicate its messages to a wide audience through innovative ways - such as art.

What - We are asking for submissions of artwork that is 2 dimensional or flat in format but there are no restrictions on art style (can be print, sketch, paint, cloth, cartoons etc).

Artwork must reflect one of the eighteen categories of messages (see here http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/newsroom/artcompetition-eng-messages.htm).

Who – The submission is OPEN TO ANYONE – no age limit …

When – Submission deadline for artwork is 30th of April 2006

One piece will be chosen to be the “visual representative of each message”.

A prize of USD $ 100 will be rewarded to each winner per key messages and a USD $ 500 will be given to the best art piece across all categories

The art work will be used in a number of ways including:

· To illustrate the CA publications particularly the relevant chapter divider pages of the synthesis book.

· In an art exhibit showcasing all the CA messages as part of the launch of the CA results at the Stockholm Water Week in August 2006.

· After August, it will become a travelling art show which can be showcased in partner and local organisations offices in locations around the world for continued publicity of the messages on water for food and life.

Where - Submissions locations are available in various countries thanks to the CA competition partners (IWMI, Ramsar, CBD, FAO, FANCA, SIWI, the Challenge Program on Water and Food, and others). More information here http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/Newsroom/artcompetition-eng-locations.htm

Mailing details for sending materials to Ramsar:

Ms Catherine Loetscher
Global Art Competition
Ramsar Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28
CH-1196 Gland
Switzerland

For further details about the competition: write to comp.assess@cgiar.org

With best wishes, Sandra Hails, Ramsar Secretariat

*********************************************************

Sandra Hails, CEPA Programme Officer
Ramsar Convention Secretariat
Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 999 0176; Fax: +41 22 999 0169
E-mail: hails@ramsar.org
Web Site: http://ramsar.org
CEPA mini-Web site: http://ramsar.org/outreach_index.htm

**********************************************************