HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Game Commission has announced the 2026 “Working Together for Wildlife” Art Contest, inviting artists to showcase their talents while promoting wildlife conservation. The contest, which features the barn owl as its subject, is a key component of the agency’s efforts to raise funds for research and management programs in the state.
Participants are required to submit original artwork depicting one or more barn owls in either a horizontal or vertical composition with specific dimensions. Submissions must include a 3-inch-wide border or mat and remain unsigned and unframed. Artists can use any medium or materials, but all entries must be submitted electronically.
The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. on May 2, 2025. Entries must be emailed to rebawillia@pa.gov, accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable entry fee, payable by mail. Artists under 18 years of age can enter free of charge.
Mail entry fees to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, ATTN: 2026 WTFW Contest, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797. Include your name with payment.
Winning submissions will be reviewed by a committee of Game Commission personnel. The top prize consists of $5,000 and 50 artist proof prints, with additional accolades for second through fifth-place winners. The first-place artist will also sign up to 750 limited-edition fine art prints, with proceeds supporting wildlife management.
Contest rules are on the Contests page of the Game Commission’s website. Artists must be Pennsylvania residents. For more information, contact the Game Commission at 1-833-742-9453 (1-833-PGC-WILD).
Since its inception in 1980, the Working Together for Wildlife program has generated over $2 million to benefit conservation projects throughout Pennsylvania. “This program highlights the vital connection between art and conservation,” said Lauren Ferreri, who oversees the initiative. “Proceeds from these prints directly support critical wildlife research, giving artists a chance to make a tangible impact.”
By shining a spotlight on the barn owl for 2026, the Game Commission continues its mission to engage both the arts community and the public in furthering the state’s conservation efforts.
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