The Golden Turtle Festival is the largest international eco-educational project, bringing together photographers, designers and artists celebrating the beauty of the wildlife.
Over 10 years, the Festival grew to be the largest international professional wildlife creative contest and exhibition with a unique interactive space. The “Living Space” of the Festival includes several zones such as classrooms, video installations, showrooms, lounges, concert venues, shops, etc. and brings together participants and partners who, through creativity, environmental education and cultural programs, draw people's attention to the beauty, fragility and versatility of wildlife.
The Golden Turtle Festival is the official event held within the framework of the United Nations Decade for Conservation of Biodiversity in Russia.
The Golden Turtle International Wildlife Art & Photography competition is the largest project of the Festival. This creative contest gathers authors from all over the world, submitting artwork in various categories. The winners of the competition are exhibited during the Festival in Moscow and at regional exhibitions during the all-Russian tour.
OUR CHARITABLE CAUSE
OUR VISION
Each element of the festival’s logo bears a deep philosophical meaning. In different cultures the turtle represents nature, the origin of creation, wisdom and longevity. Golden turtle symbolizes our belief in the capability of art to preserve the unique nature of the world. The turtle is also often depicted holding up the world on its back, which in our case symbolizes the passion of the participants, guests, partners and organizers of the Festival to preserve and multiply the beauty and the diversity of wildlife.
OUR GOALS
- Attracting public attention to the beauty of the wildlife and the fragility of the environment
- Interactively involving the society in general and children in particular, in the process of studying nature and taking care of it
- Funding surgery for children with life-threatening conditions (through the “My Equator” Charity Fund)
- Promoting photography as an art form
- Promoting contemporary artists and photographers
- Promoting ecological education and environmental awareness
- Increasing the educational and cultural level, stimulating societal creative and volunteer activity
- Promoting patriotic education and improving Russia's image in the international community
OUR HISTORY
The anniversary exhibition was held in an open gallery at Tverskoy and Rozhdestvensky Boulevards in Moscow and the central square of Elektrostal to showcase the best works of the Golden Turtle Competition over 10 years.
Patronage of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation was obtained.
Strategic partnerships were established with the World Wide Fund for Nature and the All-Russian Society of Nature Conservation.
2016
The exhibition was held in an open gallery at Tverskoy and Rozhdestvensky Boulevards to showcase the best works of the Golden Turtle Competition over 10 years.
The Festival goes through a change of strategy and management, becoming the largest project of the MY EQUATOR Charity Fund. Within the new vector of development, all funds raised by exhibitions, sale of attributes and photo albums of the Festival would be applied to finance surgical intervention to save children suffering from serious diseases.
The Golden Turtle Festival was held in the main hall of the country – the central Manezh in Moscow.
The Golden Turtle Festival became the official event of the Year of Ecology in Russia.
2014
The first summer Golden Turtle Festival was held in the Central House of Artists and in the adjacent territory.
The first outdoor exhibition of the best works of Golden Turtle competitions was held in Novosibirsk, the capital of Siberia.
Project presentation and the “Golden Turtle: Wild Russia” Exhibition at the MontPhoto Festival (Spain).
The “Golden Turtle: Wild Russia” Exhibition at the GDT Festival of the best European Wildlife Photography (Germany).
2013
The Crystal Compass National Award was won in the nomination of The Best Social and Information Project for Nature and Natural Heritage Preservation.
For the first time, the Golden Turtle Wildlife Festival was held at the Central House of Artists in Moscow, attracting more than 100,000 visitors.
The Golden Turtle participated in the WILD '10, the largest forum dedicated to wildlife preservation (Salamanca, Spain).
Project presentation and the “Golden Turtle: Wild Russia” Exhibition at the Nature Namur Festival (Belgium).
For the first time, a wildlife fine art competition was held within the Festival.
For the first time, a wildlife art design competition was held within the Festival.
2012
Patronage of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation was obtained.
Strategic partnership was established with the Russian Geographical Society.
Joining the top three of the world's largest wildlife photography competitions and festivals.
The first competition of wildlife films was held.
The exhibition was opened at the same time in the two capitals, Moscow and St. Petersburg, for the first time in the history of Russia.
The Fifth Exhibition tour (25 cities).
Presentation of the “Golden Turtle: Wild Russia” Project at the nature photography festival in Aarven (the Netherlands).
The first major regional festival in Lipetsk.
Presentation of the “Golden Turtle: Wild Russia” Project at the nature photography festival in Lünen (Germany).
2011
Patronage of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation was obtained.
Joining the pool of official events of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.
The Fourth exhibition tour (18 cities).
For the first time, special events for physically challenged children were held within the Festival.
The best photographs made by authors of the European Union of Naturalist Photographers were displayed at the Golden Turtle Exhibition.
2010
The Third exhibition tour (11 cities).
For the first time in Russia the artwork of foreign photographers was displayed at the Golden Turtle Exhibition within the Year of France-Russia Friendship.
The first exhibition was held of the best Russian photographs within the “Golden Turtle: Wild Russia” Project, that were presented at the Festival in Montier-en-Der (France).
2009
Patronage of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation was obtained.
The Second exhibition tour (8 cities).
2008
The exhibition was held in the New Manege with the support of the Federation Council.
The First exhibition tour (4 cities).
The first Day of Nature Photography.
The founding of the Naturalist Photographer Union Organization.
The first youth and children competition.
2007
By results of the Golden Turtle Competition, the first exhibition was held in the Photo Centre in Gogolevsky Boulevard.
Exhibition of the best competition photographs in St. Petersburg.
2006
The first competition of the best wildlife photographs started.