UPDATE: 24/06/2021 – this round of the competition is now closed and we will announce the winner shortly.

Calling all insect-loving creatives to #makemoreinsects. Help us swarm Instagram this summer with insect inspired arts and raise awareness to combat their rapid decline. The insects need our help so let’s make more of them by any means necessary.

Our summer 2021 art competition runs from 15 April to 15 June. At the end a shortlist of 5 pieces will be chosen by the Pestival team for the public to vote on, and the one with the most votes will win £200! We will also host an exhibition of our favourite entries in the autumn (either on or off-line, depending on Covid restrictions). See the full terms and conditions here.

All artistic practice is welcome, though as the platform is Instagram it is good to bear that in mind when planning your piece – ie. short videos and visual art will have more impact than audio-only or smello-vision creations. From dance groups creating 6 legged wonders, to care home nit knitters, pest-loving poets, bee-obsessed bards, fly-on-the-wall film makers and anarchic ant artists – all interspecies collaborations are wanted.

This competition encourages everyone of any age to enter. That said, if you’re under 16 you need to get your parents permission to post your masterpiece and if you’re a teacher posting on behalf of your learners make sure they stay anonymous, and if one learner wins they win for their school!

How to get involved

We have put together a handy guide to submitting your artwork, along with some fun insect facts that you might find helpful for inspiration.