Creating a celebration of conservation
Help us celebrate over 30 years of conservation in North Carolina. Conservation Trust for North Carolina was established in 1991 to advance the pace of land conservation in the state. The Blue Ridge Parkway launched our conservation journey and today is the backbone of our work to achieve a resilient future statewide.
Since then, through the generosity of our supporters, the land protection team has stitched together a quilt of conserved land, one property at a time. We’ve protected more than 35,000 acres along the Parkway in partnership with local land trusts, private landowners, and public agencies.
To celebrate these milestones and energize the road ahead, we’re asking you to be creative.
2025-26 Conservation Art Contest
This year, we’re launching our first ever digital art contest, in celebration of the species, landscapes, and vistas found along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina. Open to both professional and amateur artists (16+) statewide, your art has a voice in our story. To enter, create a unique original design celebrating a native species, landscape, or trail in Western North Carolina.
Choose your own art adventure, channel your creativity into telling a conservation success story or highlight a threatened or endangered species that needs our help. Winners will receive an honorarium for their submission and will be promoted to our universe of supporters. Your art will be shared with over 20,000 people through our social media, as well as in our web gallery, and in external communications, all with full attribution for your work. You may even see your design out in the wild on a CTNC T-shirt, sticker, or other merchandise. No entry fees are required.
Contest Timeline
Launching in November 2025, the submission period will close on March 15, 2026. Judges from our universe of supporters and from North Carolina’s thriving art community will begin reviewing submissions in April, contestants will be notified by May 15, 2026.
Artwork Requirements
All designs must be original and must focus on native species, landscapes, or trails found in Western North Carolina. All designs must be digital. Preference will be given to designs that feature endangered or threatened species. Designs that utilize artificial intelligence will be automatically disqualified.
Please submit your design in a vector format. High-quality PDFs and PNG files may also be accepted.
Share Your Art
To enter the contest, please complete this form. Afterwards, you’ll receive an email from art@ctnc.org with a link to share your design.
Interested in participating as a judge? Let us know by emailing art@ctnc.org.