Vibrant, colorful jungle scene with various animals including jaguars, snakes, birds, butterflies, and insects, surrounded by bright flowers, lush green foliage, and intricate decorative patterns.
Vibrant, colorful jungle scene with various animals including jaguars, snakes, birds, butterflies, and insects, surrounded by bright flowers, lush green foliage, and intricate decorative patterns.
Text on a black background that reads 'DRAIANA TO THE WILD THE CALL OF THE CARDAMOM RAINFOREST' in yellow, stylized font.

A city-wide wildlife art festival for Siem Reap

18-20 September 2026

Opening September 18, 2026
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Festival is Open!

Open to Everyone Based in Cambodia

Artwork deadline: 4th September 2026

A graphic of a black handgun over a yellow background with black text that reads "Stop Gun Violence"

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.

Colorful jungle scene with lush leaves, and hidden animals including a bear, a jaguar, a lion, a tiger, a crocodile, and a parrot.
A detailed black and white illustration of a spotted wild cat, possibly a leopard, with large, expressive eyes and a signature reading 'Bill Densley' in the bottom right corner.

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.

The competition brief is available for download at any time in 2 languages: English & Khmer

FULL COMPETITION BRIEF:

COMPETITION BRIEF

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

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

Shinta Mani Foundation

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.

DONATE
A group of people in a rural outdoor setting, with greenery and banana leaves visible. A woman in the center holding a container of Dupro baby formula, a young boy standing beside her, a smiling man holding a toddler, and an elderly woman sitting nearby. The scene appears to depict a community gathering or family celebration.

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

BUY THE PAINTINGS
An artist painting a large portrait of a woman with glasses, surrounded by flowers, with additional artwork and art supplies on the table, in a bright, green-filled studio.
Collection of colorful paintings featuring various wildlife and nature scenes displayed on white tables.

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!

QUESTIONS?

A vibrant illustration of a blue jaguar with leopard-like spots resting among green leaves and foliage in a jungle setting.
A vibrant illustration of a blue jaguar with leopard-like spots resting among green leaves and foliage in a jungle setting.

contact art.drawntothewild@gmail.com directly via mail.

Our Partners

Logo of Anantara Angkor Resort featuring a stylized pyramid with a lotus flower design and the resort's name in elegant font.
The logo of Jaya House Hotels featuring stylized tropical leaves above the words 'Jaya House' in elegant cursive font and 'HOTELS' in bold uppercase letters beneath.
Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh logo with white background
Black background with a logo of a rectangular maze in the center, above the words 'Shintaku' and 'Unlimited' in stylized text.
Logo for Raffles, Grand Hotel D'Angkor Siem Reap, featuring a stylized decorative peacock with intricate feather patterns.
Logo of TreeLine Urban Resort featuring a minimalist line drawing of a tree with a curved branch and two leaves.
FCC Angkor by Avani logo with decorative lines and black geometric accents.
A close-up of a small glass bowl filled with a layered dessert topped with shredded coconut and berries.
Minimalist logo with black dots forming a triangular shape above the text 'SALA Lodges', with 'SALA' in bold uppercase and 'Lodges' in lowercase.
Outline of a graphic with black background and white text reading 'BENSLEY GALLERY ART REVIEWED' surrounding a central blank square.
Sign that reads "PARK HYATT SIEM REAP" with smaller text below that says "GUEST ROOM PERSONAL".
Logo of Shinta Mani Foundation featuring a decorative emblem above the name.
The word 'I AM' written in stylized black letters on a white background.
Logo for Angkor Wildlife & Aquarium featuring silhouettes of elephants, a bird, and aquatic animals against a backdrop of trees.
Text reading 'ART & E' in black and yellow with colorful digital glitch effects on the right side.