The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has called for a street art contest with the theme ‘I love the ocean, and I’m born to be wild’ in An Binh iIslet Commune during ‘Ocean week’ from June 1-8.

A portrait on a wall.

The contest’s organising committee said the competition, held with the financial support of the US Fish and Wildlife Service and in collaboration with Ly Son Island District,  is open to all Vietnamese professional and non-professional artists who love the ocean, islands and the environment. 

The competition aims to support environmental protection activities that focus on protecting the marine turtle, a species considered an indicator of the status of the coastal environment. 

It also will help raise the awareness of local people and authorities on environmental protection in the Ly Son Marine Protected Area via paintings of the life and livelihoods of local villagers; environmental protection of the island and marine turtle conservation. 

All selected artwork will be created on the wall of households in An Bình Commune, located 3 nautical miles off the of Ly Son Island in the central Quang Ngai Province. 

All submitted ideas must be original, and submitted artwork credit will belong to both the organisers and the artists. The organisers will use final round artwork for printing, exhibiting and communications activities. 

The submission deadline is 12pm on May 2. 

The ideas for the artwork can be sent by e-mail to tnvruabien@gmail.com, or posted on facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/IUCN-Vietnam-Sea-turtle-Volunteer-group, or IUCN Viet Nam Media Network’s facebook page. 

An Bình Commune has a total square area of 69,4ha with the population of 510 people, of which most are living on garlic and onion farming and fishing as well as eco-tourism service. 

Last year, artists from South Korea and 12 volunteers started the colourful murals on the moss-covered walls project in Trung Thanh fishing village of Tam Thanh Commune in Quang Nam Province. 

Last month, artists from Singapore Technology and Design University, Viet Nam’s Fine Arts Association, colleges in Hà Nội and local painters also began a coracle and bamboo boat painting for an exhibition in the village. 

VNS