Where Did All the Animals Go?
Where Did All the Animals Go? is an international art and environmental education project, with drawing, one of the oldest forms of communication, at its core. The project give children, communities and wildlife a voice.
Education is a key component in reversing the biodiversity crisis. Founded in 2019 by Artist, Jane Lee McCracken to share her passions for drawing in Biro (ballpoint pen) and wildlife, and in partnership with international wildlife charity Born Free and a dynamic group of North East teachers and Outreach partners who form the Guyana, California, Kenya and Malaysia Outreach Program Teams, this grassroots project provides, through art, environmental education to children and communities in the UK and internationally. Using Jane's medium of choice, the humble Biro, the project gives the opportunity to learn about and draw vulnerable species, nurturing compassion and collective responsibility for wildlife and includes the following key messages:
- A call for wider awareness and compassion for wildlife affected by human destruction, and the subsequent impact of wildlife depletion on humanity if we don’t act now.
- Jane invites us to explore the facts as to why and how species are threatened.
- Simple key actions are explored to make positive changes for wildlife, both locally and globally
- Wildlife is something we all share; wildlife has the power to unite us through the need for its conservation.
- This project provides an opportunity to form connections with vulnerable species
- Think of the animal you drew and how the world is a better place for its existence
- Remember, EVERYONE CAN DRAW!
Image credits left to right: © Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums / Colin Davison; © Jane Lee McCracken; © Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums / Colin Davison
EVENTS
Where Did All the Animals Go? exhibition is on permanent display at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne from July 2021. The Endangered Species Conference held in conjunction with the exhibition on 2 July 2021 is available to view here. WATCH THE EXHIBITION VIDEO:
GET CREATIVE OUTDOORS: This summer Born Free is partnering with Jane for Get Creative Outdoors, supported by the BBC, to invite you to try art in the open air! If you’re looking for something creative to do with kids this summer, take a look at WDATAG? activity here and other FREE activities here.
WILD POSTCARD GALLERY: To submit drawings for the project's online Wild Postcard Gallery visit the gallery for details here.
PROJECT NEWS: Updates about WDATAG? project are posted on Jane's blog here and on social media here: Facebook/wheredidalltheanimalsgoproject / Twitter/WDATAGproject / Instagram/wdatagproject_janeleemcc For news from Guyana, California Outreach Programmes and Born Free Kenya visit:
Facebook/GuyanaArtForConservation / Facebook.com/WDATAGCalifornia / www.facebook.com/bornfreekenya
