Welcome to Creature Conserve
Artwork by Jenn Houle, Plant Paint Cross-Pollinate: Monarch
Creature Conserve is a 501(c)(3) global nonprofit outreach organization based in Rhode Island, USA, that brings artists, scientists, writers and other creatives together for wildlife conservation. We create 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 wildlife conservation.
Our programs include curatorial programs and exhibits, media outreach, mentorship, scholarships and fellowships, and workshops. They take place in person and on-line. We welcome people at all skill levels, from all backgrounds, and in all countries. Scroll down for more information about how to get involved!
History
Creature Conserve was founded in 2015 by animal-lover, author, educator and zoo and wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Lucy Spelman. In her TEDxProvidence talk, Art Can Save A Panda, she makes the case that the arts, informed, inspired, and prompted by science, have the power to direct our attention to the ongoing loss of species and what we can do about it.
Watch Art Can Save A Panda, TEDxProvidence.
Dr Lucy has an undergraduate degree in biology from Brown University and a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from the University of California at Davis. In 1994, she became the 43rd member of the American College of Zoological Medicine, the first to achieve this milestone right out of residency training.
Her work experience includes zoo, wildlife, and small animal medicine; public speaking; writing; teaching; zoo administration—she served as the first female Director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo from 2000-2005; and, wildlife conservation. In particular, her field experience includes Sichuan China, with giant pandas, Guyana with giant otters, and central Africa with mountain gorillas where she lived for three years as field manager for the nonprofit, Gorilla Doctors. She began teaching biology to non-majors in 2009, initially as Visiting Assistant Professor at Brown University and then continuing as part-time Faculty in the Liberal Arts division of the Rhode Island School of Design where she teaches today.
Impact
In its first decade, Creature Conserve supported 1,959 program participants from 45 countries and five indigenous nations. This total includes 645 scholars (exhibiting artists, mentors, mentees, program leaders, scholarship recipients, workshop instructors, and speakers) and 1,314 workshop attendees. The works of art, writing, and performance produced by this talented group cover a broad range of topics in wildlife conservation, ranging from documenting rare moths and studying beaver behavior to protecting tropical frogs, mapping unrecognized Indigenous lands. and sharing water rights. We have shared their work with over 60,000 supporters via our exhibitions, media, and public events.
Our Programs
Angela Baron, Leopard Frog
Curatorial Programs
We curate juried exhibits & events that showcase the work of artists and writers who are combining the arts with science to engage viewers in art-sci conservation projects. We also host Curatorial Fellows and Scholars who are exploring new ways to create exhibitions and public programs. Heather McMordie is our Director of Curatorial Programs & Exhibits and a Core Team member.
Mentorship
We offer a 6-month mentorship program designed to support mentees as they explore the human connection to nature and create new art-sci pathways. We also host Mentorship Fellows who are expanding the reach and relevance of our Mentorship community. Derek Russell is our Director of Mentorship and a Core Team member.
Faith Williams, American Burying Beetle
Emily Schnall, Tiger Touch
Workshops
Our workshops give participants the opportunity to build their leadership skills and practice making conservation science more accessible, meaningful, and relevant. Instructors include Core Team members and invited experts.
Scholarships & Fellowships
We provide scholarship stipends for artists, designers, writers, and experts with scientific and traditional knowledge to support their creative process, including making art informed by science that inspires conservation action. Our Executive Director and Founder, Dr. Lucy Spelman, administers this program with input from the Core Team.
Deepika Nandan, Conflict
Faith Williams, Cradled in Leaves (process image)
Fund Our Programs
Your donation to Creature Conserve allows us to run more programs, reach a wider audience, and grow our creative community.
Edited by Christopher Kondrich (Creature Conserve Poet-in-Residence), Lucy Spelman (Creature Conserve Executive Director & Founder), and Susan Tacent (Creature Conserve Writer-in-Residence) and published by the University of Minnesota Press (January 2025) is a polyvocal call to arms about animal extinction and habitat loss that harnesses the power of literature and scientific research to move us, and stir our hearts and minds, toward action and change.