Monarch Art Promo (Mission, TX) – The National Butterfly Center^TM, home of the Southernmost Monarch Waystation, is proud to work with Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote the 21st Annual “This is My Mexico” Children’s Art Contest, brought to you by the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME).

The theme of this year’s contest is “The Monarch and its Lifecycle in North America”. For this reason, both the National Butterfly Center and the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) felt it was important to share news of this contest to the ministry’s non-traditional audience, i.e. those families, schools and other organizations that might not be in regular contact with a Mexican Consulate.

“The Monarch is a powerful symbol of strength and transformation, of endurance and potential,” explains Marianna Trevino Wright, executive director of the National Butterfly Center. “Its transcontinental migration unites three countries and many cultures, all of which seem to appreciate the majesty of this creature and the ritual rebirth it represents. The Monarch is the stuff of legends and folklore that gives lift to our imagination and life to our myths. During the period of this contest and long afterward, we hope adults will share their Monarch stories with children, plant Monarch gardens at their schools, and set aside space in their communities to celebrate this species we all have in common.”

NABA is a founding member and member of the steering committee of the tri-national Monarch Joint Venture (MJV), a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic programs that are working together to support and coordinate efforts to protect the Monarch migration in the face of declining population numbers and decreasing availability of habitat. Recognizing the importance of public education and grassroots initiatives to achieve Monarch conservation goals, we believe it is important to broadcast opportunities like this, for individuals to comprehend the Monarch lifecycle and the intimate relationship this iconic butterfly has to its only host plant, milkweed.

The contest is an invitation for all children ages 6 - 14 “to know and draw the Monarch, its habitat and migration through three countries, the stages of its life and all the challenges it faces on its path to fulfill its destiny.” Drawing and paintings made with the materials of the artist’s choice must be submitted on a 12” x 12” square cardboard or artboard, with the registration form attached to the back. Artwork may be submitted to the nearest Mexican Embassy, Consulate of Mexico or Delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by Friday, October 13, 2017. Twelve winning artworks and fifty “honorable mentions” will be selected from around the world to receive prizes and be published in the Institute of Mexicans Abroad 2018 calendar. These sixty-two pieces will also comprise an itinerant exposition that will debut in Mexico City, then travel around the world for display. All winners will be announced online Monday, November 14.

To learn more about the Monarch or to download complete contest rules and the entry form, visit www.MissionMonarchs.com. Links to this information may also be found in Spanish and English at www.ime.gob.mx/esteesmimexico2017.

###

The National Butterfly Center is committed to ‘Growing Connections’ between people, plants, and the winged wonders that pollinate and propagate all that grows around us. We do this through educational and environmental initiatives that cultivate meaningful understanding of the parties and processes that create sustainable ecosystems. The Center is open to the public, for visitors and members, seven days/week.

To learn more about the National Butterfly Center, and how you can join us, visit www.nationalbutterflycenter.org. Your annual membership or charitable gift impacts the beauty of our community and helps preserve the biologically diverse, natural treasures of deep South Texas.