International Deadline: April 6, 2010 -

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the Natural Resources Defense Council is offering its first-ever Environmental Art Prize. The goal of the prize is to remind viewers of the earth's natural beauty and to draw attention to the serious environmental threats facing our planet.

The winner, chosen by jury, will have the opportunity to be featured in an exhibition at New York's Nabi Gallery in June and July, 2010.

To enter, artists must submit images of six environmentally related paintings, drawings, prints, or mixed media pieces via Flickr. Photographs, sculptures, videos, and conceptual or performance art pieces will not be considered.

Entries must be received by April 6, 2010. Finalists will be announced by the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2010. The winner will be announced in May.

ELIGIBILITY
NRDC staff, NRDC Trustees, Nabi Gallery staff, and their immediate families are ineligible to enter.

HOW TO APPLY
Submissions will be accepted until 5 PM Eastern time on Monday, April 6, 2010.

To be considered, each artist must submit six pieces -- no more, no less -- of his or her original artwork via Flickr (www.flickr.com), a free online image sharing application. Acceptable entries are limited to environmentally-related paintings, drawings, prints, and mixed media pieces. Photographs, sculptures, videos, and conceptual or performance art pieces will not be considered, and the submission of such works will result in disqualification.

To submit images for consideration, please upload them to Flickr and tag each of them nrdcartprize. Please make certain to mark the images as 'public'. If you are not a Flickr user yet, signing up is free and easy, so click here to get started. NRDC and the Nabi Gallery reserve the right to display on any of their web sites any images uploaded to Flickr that have been tagged nrdcartprize. NRDC will contact the finalists via their Flickr accounts.

JURY & PROCESS
The prize winner will be selected by an independent panel with staffing assistance from NRDC and the Nabi Gallery. In selecting from the finalists, the jury will consider the following criteria: overall excellence; use of materials and technique; originality and innovation; and fidelity to the twin goals of the prize -- reminding viewers of the earth's natural beauty and drawing attention to the serious environmental threats facing our planet.

The winner will be announced in May and celebrated at the Nabi Gallery in June. The winner will have the opportunity to show six or more of his or her art works at a Nabi Gallery exhibition, alongside a selection of art works submitted by other finalists.

NRDC is grateful to the following art experts who have volunteered to join the Environmental Art Prize jury:

Susan Crown - NRDC Trustee; Artist; Principal, Henry Crown and Company; Executive, Foundation Chair, Community Activist
Carrie Elston - NRDC New York Council member; Artist
Shelly Malkin - NRDC Trustee; Landscape painter; Conservationist
Josie Merck - NRDC Trustee; Artist; Founder, Ocean View Foundation
Christopher Rothko - NRDC President's Circle member; Writer; Curator; Archivist
Val Schaffner - NRDC President's Circle Member; Co-Owner, The Nabi Gallery

The composition of the jury panel is subject to change at any time, at the sole discretion of NRDC and the Nabi Gallery.

CONTEST DETAILS
By submitting his or her six works for consideration, each artist represents that he or she is the sole creator of those works. Independent of NRDC, the winner and any other finalists selected for exhibition will negotiate financial arrangements with the Nabi Gallery for the sale of their work during the exhibition. NRDC plays no role in the sale of these works. All commercial transactions are between the artist, the buyer, and the Nabi Gallery.

The winning artist will be responsible for the transportation of his or her work to and from the Nabi Gallery in New York. Neither NRDC nor the Nabi Gallery will be responsible for any loss of or damage to the winner's works of art, however caused. Should the winner choose to attend the opening of his or her exhibition at the Nabi Gallery, he or she will be responsible for travel expenses to and from New York, and for the cost of room and board while in New York. These provisions apply as well to any other finalists who may accept invitations to participate in the exhibition.

About Nabi Gallery
Since moving to Chelsea in January, 2004, the Nabi Gallery has been acclaimed for its dramatic space, welcoming ambiance, and refreshing selection of art works. The Gallery is located at 137 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001 - ph: 212 929 6063

About NRDC
NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action organization. We use law, science and the support of 1.3 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all living things.

Worth Magazine has named NRDC one of America's 100 best charities, and the Wise Giving Alliance of the Better Business Bureau reports that NRDC meets its highest standards for accountability and use of donor funds.