A city-wide wildlife art festival for Siem Reap
18-20 September 2026
Open to Everyone Based in Cambodia
Artwork deadline: 4th September 2026
All submitted art will be shown as part of
Drawn to the Wild exhibition in Siem Reap.
Draw it. Know it.
Love it. Protect it.
Drawn to the Wild is a celebration of Cambodia's extraordinary wildlife and the artists who help us see it with fresh eyes. Through art, we hope to help children, students, and communities to understand and appreciate wildlife.
Art possesses a unique magic: it transforms the abstract into the unforgettable. When a child sits down to draw a pangolin, a gibbon, or a clouded leopard, they are not just putting ink to paper—they are forming a lifelong bond with that creature. Through this festival, we believe that by nurturing artistic expression, we can foster environmental empathy. Ultimately, what we truly understand and cherish, we are far less likely to destroy.
Drawn to the Wild is not an art contest about animals. It is a city-wide love letter to Cambodian wildlife, written in pencil, paint, ink, charcoal, mud, mischief and hope.
Schedule ( Sept 17 - 20 )
Prizes
$15,000
Drawn to the Wild offers huge prizes, including a total prize fund of $15,000, a feature in the art festival in Siem Reap for 1 full month, and a certificate of recognition from the renowned artist Bill Bensley & Shinta Mani Foundation.
Young Children (Ages 6-12)
Gold Award - USD 1,000
Silver Award - USD 500
Bronze Award - USD 250
Highschool Students (Ages 13-18)
Gold Award - USD 1,500
Silver Award - USD 1,000
Bronze Award - USD 500
College & University Students (Ages 19-25)
Gold Award - USD 2,000
Silver Award - USD 1,000
Bronze Award - USD 500
Adults & Open Category (Ages 25+)
Gold Award - USD 2,500
Silver Award - USD 1,500
Bronze Award - USD 750
People’s Choice Award
USD 2,000
JURY
CHHANY CHHOUEN
Professional Cambodian Artist
TOR VUTHA
Co-founder Ponleu Selpak (PPSA)
NOUT DARO
Professional Cambodian Artist
BILL BENSLEY
Founder and creative director of BENSLEY
KOU KUNTHEA
An independent artist and art teacher
and together with all the GMs from participation hotels.
Winners & Results
Young Children (Ages 6-12)
Highschool Students (Ages 13-18)
Adults & Open Category (Ages 25+)
College & University Students (Ages 19-25)
People’s Choice Award
Key Dates
Competition begins
23rd Jun 2026
Download the brief and start creating your artworks
22nd July - 4th Sept 2026
Deliver your artworks directly to Shinta Mani Foundation, (see the submission section for details)
Submit
Opening of Drawn to the Wild Art Festival in Siem Reap. Winners are awarded prize money and Certificate
Exhibition & Awards
18th Sept 2026
30-day Exhibition
19th Sept -19th Oct 2026
Selected artworks are exhibited at selected hotels in Siem Reap for 1 full month
Artwork Submission
There is NO registration form or process
Your artwork should come with your information such as Name, Age, Phone Number, City & Title of the Painting, written at the back of the paper.
You are responsible for the shipping & delivery of your artwork to the provided location.
Submit as many entries as you wish!
Please send your artwork to Shinta Mani Foundation
Oum Khun & 14th St. Mondoul II Village, Svay Dangkum Commune Siem Reap District, Siem Reap Province Postal Code: 17254
Artwork receiver: Joseph
Contact: +855 17 524 579
Submission Location
Since its establishment in 2004, the Shinta Mani Foundation has been a driving force for change within the Cambodian community. This non-profit organization is dedicated to uplifting individuals through a variety of initiatives encompassing education, healthcare, small business development, and environmental preservation.
A cornerstone of our work is the Hotel School, providing vocational training in the hospitality industry and paving the way for secure employment opportunities.
Alongside this, we are deeply committed to environmental efforts, actively working to safeguard Cambodia's natural resources for generations to come.
By offering interest-free small business loans, basic business education, and healthcare services, as well as leading environmental conservation activities, we strive to promote self-sustainability, economic growth, and lasting prosperity. It is our mission to ignite a ripple effect of positive change, contributing to the creation of a thriving and vibrant Cambodia.
Shinta Mani Foundation
Bensley Outsider Gallery is a vibrant celebration of creativity with a purpose. Every artwork displayed here helps protect Cambodia’s people, wildlife, and natural heritage, with all proceeds supporting the Shinta Mani Foundation and Wildlife Alliance. By purchasing a piece, you are not only taking home an original work of art—you are directly contributing to local communities, wildlife rescue, and the conservation of Cambodia’s precious forests.
BENSLEY OUTSIDER GALLERY
Submitted Artworks
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Submitted Artworks 〰️
These are the submitted works in the professional categories so far. Submit yours now and join the Wildlife!
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