LIA’s Creative LIAisons has been running since 2012, helping the next generation of creative talent to develop what they can do. This year, in partnership with Gorilla Doctors, the organisation dedicated to saving the last 880 mountain gorillas with veterinary care, LIA has taken another positive step towards nurturing young talent. The partners have initiated a global competition that is open to all creatives between the ages of 21 – 30 years.
This competition is free to enter.
It will be judged by top creative names in the industry from advertising, production and digital as well as representatives from Gorilla Doctors and the Creative LIAisons attendees. The winning work will be commissioned by Gorilla Doctors and will be produced professionally. The winning team will also win a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the mountain gorillas in Rwanda, as well as, a ticket to Creative LIAisons 2019 in Las Vegas.
“Our focus has always been to invest in young talent,” stated Barbara Levy, president of LIA.
“That’s why we started Creative LIAisons, as our way of giving back to the industry. When we learned of the plight of the mountain gorillas through our association with Gorilla Doctors, we felt that this was the perfect platform to galvanize young talent from all over the world to help save these gorillas through a competition to find the best idea.”
The numbers of mountain gorillas have dwindled to such a dangerously low level because of habitat loss, poaching and disease. But thanks largely to the life-saving veterinary medicine and a One Health approach of the group of veterinarians known as Gorilla Doctors, their numbers are rising. These doctors operate across the gorilla territories of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Mountain gorillas are the only great ape population in the world that is increasing, and 50% of that growth is due to the veterinary care of Gorilla Doctors. Gorilla Doctors hope to be able to do the same for the eastern lowland gorillas when unrest in their region settles down,” explained Dr Mike Cranfield of Gorilla Doctors. “We take a one health approach which is based on the understanding that the health of the gorillas is only possible when, their environment, other wildlife sharing the parks and the human populations with their domestic animals are healthy. Through this competition we hope to expose the world to the plight of the gorillas and other highly endangered wildlife with a call to action to help our team and others save these animals from extinction.”
“We know that the name Gorilla Doctors is not familiar to most people. We want to challenge brilliant young minds and talent to build brand awareness for this very important yet low key organization,” Barbara Levy added. “It’s not just about saving a species. It’s about saving mankind.”
The competition is open from April 23 for entries.
Everything you need to know to enter is here.
