About us

Creature Conserve, Inc is a 501(c)(3) based in Rhode Island

Who we are (mission): We are growing a creative community that combines art with science to cultivate new pathways for wildlife conservation.

Why we exist (vision): Wildlife populations are declining around the world because of human impacts. We are all part of this problem, yet too few of us are part of the solution. We strive to take a more inviting and inclusive approach to wildlife conservation, open to diverse perspectives from the arts, humanities, sciences, traditional ecological knowledge, and beyond.

Jessie Knirsch, Less Fencing, More Migrating, Oil, acrylic, marker, pen, pencil on canvas paper

What we do (plan): We bring together artists, designers, writers, and experts with scientific and traditional knowledge in a supportive, welcoming space to learn about threats to wildlife, share empathy for animals, exchange ideas, and find opportunities for growth at the intersection of art, science, and conservation. Our participant programs take place in person and online and include:

Our support programs feature the works made by our program participants and offer opportunities for everyone in our creative community to connect with each other; they include Media and Network Growth.

How we work (strategy): We accomplish our mission by supporting creatives as they take bold new steps to explore the collaborative art-sci process. Creative works tap into our emotions and our subconscious and make the scientific and traditional knowledge we use to make decisions more accessible, meaningful, and real. They remind us that all life is connected and that we are animals, too.

Please see our Alumni Page for examples.

Who we serve: Our organization serves two audiences: program participants and members of the general public who support our work. We welcome people at all skill levels, from all backgrounds, and in all countries.

Why work with us: We invite participants and supporters to try something new: join our creative community, use our media platforms and networking tools to connect with like-minded individuals, find inspiration in the combination of art and science, and get involved in wildlife conservation. 

  • We offer participants the opportunity to meet in small groups and hold generative conversations, gain practice curating and hosting exhibitions, online and in person; and, compete for financial support. Participants learn from each other, create and innovate together, develop new skills, and use their combined talents to reach a wider audience and improve outcomes. 

  • We offer supporters the opportunity to hear, read, and see the works of art and writing created by program participants, connect with these individuals directly through exhibitions, podcasts, performances, social media, and websites, and, support their work by purchasing art, books, and tickets, and by donating to their art-sci projects.

Financials: We share most (90% or more) of the funds we raise with our community! For more please visit our Donate Page.

Impact: Since our founding, we have supported over 1400 program participants from 36 countries and reached 40,000 people with our exhibitions, media content, and public events. Our art-sci work has featured a variety of animal species, ranging from moths and tropical frogs to beavers and whales, as well as larger issues like mapping unrecognized Indigenous lands and sharing water rights. 

Please see our Annual Reports for details about our program activities, financials and measures of success.

DEFINING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Animals are central to our lives. We rely on them for companionship, clothing, food, medicine, sport, and spirituality. We live with them in our homes, farms, cities, towns, and wilderness areas. We share millions of years of evolutionary history. We compete for the same basic needs: air, food, water, shelter, room to move, and each other. Our success as a species depends on theirs. Sadly, our actions have had dire consequences for most of the other animals on Earth. Few will survive our massive presence unless we intervene. 

At Creature Conserve, we define wildlife conservation as taking action to live in balance with wild animals and protect the habitats that sustain them and us. It is essential for a just and peaceful world. We recognize that bringing people together via our programming is only the first step. Wildlife conservation works when we all get involved.

MAKING ART-SCI PATHWAYS for WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACCESSIBLE

We recognize that many artists, designers, writers and other creatives, especially those in underserved communities have limited access to experts with scientific and traditional knowledge and few, if any, opportunities to get involved in on-the-ground wildlife conservation. Similarly, relatively few experts working in wildlife conservation to restore species and their habitats have established connections with creatives. 

With these limitations in mind, we are committed to making our language and working spaces more inclusive and our programs more accessible. For example, we recently converted our workshops to asynchronous online formats with subtitled pre-recorded videos; we are supporting curatorial fellows around the world who are curating exhibits rather than hosting one at a time; and, as we expand our mentorship and scholarship programs, we are creating new opportunities for individuals.

OUR WORK

FOR program highlights, IMPACTS, and financials, PLEASE SEE OUR ANNUAL REPORTS (PDF)

Banner Artwork by Rachel Frank, Rewilding Offering Hand Oyster