Successful Fundraiser

Happy news: our first-ever year-end fundraiser for Creature Conserve was a huge success. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we exceeded our goal by several thousand dollars!

In December, we set out to raise $8,000 to support our programs in 2025. We received 44 donations and raised $14,246.07.

We will use these funds to support creatives as they take bold new steps to explore the collaborative art-sci process and get involved in wildlife conservation. Please see below for examples of their inspiring work.

On behalf of everyone on our Creature Conserve Team, THANK YOU.

Lucy Spelman - Executive Director

Things to be inspired by

Altea Narici (Creature Conserve Visiting Creative Scholarship Recipient 2024) writes about her project, “Following the Monk Seal” on her blog:
— —Phase3 is now happening! I’m writing new music and starting to share it in open rehearsals. The writing process has been deeper and broader than I expected. I must thank the direct field experience for this, and the support of such an inspiring community as Creature Conserve’s, but also the timing of these experiences, coming after quite a long pause in music making. …So I wish not to assume things about the seals or speak for them; I’d rather share what following them, observing them and being in the same space and medium with them, inspired in me. …The ultimate goal is to support the effort to protect and study Mediterranean Monk Seals, by involving audiences in creative musical and performative experiences related to this species, her habitat, and conservation research.”.

“somehow the sea is always the destination” by Altea Narici

Maren Prophit (Creature Conserve Artist Partnerships Scholarship Recipient 2024) recently hosted another birding workshop as part of her project, “Park Putzing and Puzzles”:
— — In this project, I am looking to highlight the migratory and native species of birds within New York City and the five boroughs. Working alongside Brooklyn Bird Club’s current outreach programs, I want to expand and develop different ways of experiencing the natural spaces in the city ... I want to include narratives that consider the role these animals play in our day-to-day language, how their journey to this shared habitat looks on a global scale, and how it might be changing in the future. ... I want to bring language and wordplay into these conversations, to have participants noticing birds wherever they go, in their speech, books, or even their other animal companions.

Gathering on Coney Island, NYC for a workshop on “Gull Identification and Lore” - participants included Artists of the MET and the Brooklyn Bird Club

Things to look forward to

Advanced workshop: Leading in the Art-Sci Space

Instructor: Lucy Spelman

Date: February 15, 2025 live session

Time: 10 am-12 pm ET

Format: One live session (Zoom) with asynchronous follow-up

Registration: $50

Attendance: Participate in one live session with (optional) asynchronous communication and activities.

About this workshop: Join Executive Director and Founder of Creature Conserve, Dr. Lucy Spelman, for a two-part workshop to help you develop your skills as a leader in the art-sci wildlife conservation space. Through a series of exercises, you will explore your leadership style, improve your ability to ask high-quality questions, identify opportunities to lead, and learn how to have conversations that influence outcomes. You will also identify one or more skills to work on and develop further. One live session with optional asynchronous follow-up.

Upcoming Workshops

Our workshops are designed to support anyone in our community interested in combining art and science in their work about wildlife conservation. They consist of single or multiple sessions - live or asynchronous - including presentations, feedback opportunities, and access to supporting materials. We offer multiple levels: fundamentals, practice sessions, advanced workshops, and master classes. Whether you have just begun developing your own art-sci pathway, or are already well on your way, we have a workshop to support you!

Our goal is to support your individual growth and development as a creative. Ultimately, our community also benefits. As in nature, the growth of each individual contributes to the entire ecosystem. We hope you will join us for a workshop that supports you where you are today.

For the full schedule and to sign up, visit Workshops on our website.

Questions? Please reach out to Content & Networking Strategist Shiri Lev at connect@creatureconserve.com.

Workshop presentation slide and artwork by Sofiya Shukhova

Our new book

Published by University of Minnesota Press, January 21, 2025
Cover: Horizon 2018 by Lisa Erickson

Join us for a book talk!

The following is our schedule of book talks planned for 2025.

• Politics and Prose Bookstore, Washington, DC: January 24, 2025 | watch a recording of the event here on YouTube.

• RiffRaff Bookstore, Providence, RI: January 30

• Rogers Free Library with Inkfish Books, Bristol, RI: February 5

• Third Place Books, Seattle, WA: February 24

• Milkweed Books, Minneapolis, MN: February 27

• Association of Writers and Writing Programs, Los Angeles, CA: March 26

We’ll update this list with additional details as they become available and as we confirm events taking place in different parts of the US.

Anything you want to share?

We love to hear from you. Get in touch with us at:
connect@creatureconserve.com
media@creatureconserve.com