Artists for Conservation Festival Puts Spotlight on Bears

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Sept. 24, 2014) - The world's leading nature and wildlife artists will gather for an evening of fundraising and celebration on September 26. The opening gala for the fourth annual Artists for Conservation Festival will draw both art lovers and nature enthusiasts to Grouse Mountain. This year's festival focuses on bears.

"The Artists for Conservation Festival is a rallying point for art and environmental education centered around a world class art exhibit," said Jeff Whiting, founder and president of Artists for Conservation. "Our goal is to reach as many people as possible through a range of engaging and inspiring cultural and educational programs."

The importance of bears as indicators of a healthy environment combined with the recent controversy around bear trophy hunting in British Columbia prompted the focus of this year's festival. Presented by RE/MAX and sponsored by Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada, guests will have the opportunity to purchase some of the latest original paintings and sculptures by leading nature and wildlife artists from around the world. The live exhibit will feature 85 original artworks for sale. Original art pieces will be auctioned off with all proceeds directly supporting Artists for Conservation's mission of wildlife conservation and environmental education.

"We are thrilled to host the Artists for Conservation Festival at the Peak of Vancouver for the fourth consecutive year," said Grouse Mountain Resorts General Manager Michael Cameron. "For many years, Grouse Mountain's Refuge For Endangered Wildlife has been passionate about bear conservation and raising awareness about the need to protect all wildlife, so this special partnership could not be a more perfect fit."

Tickets for the opening gala on Friday, September 26 and Wine & Cheese on Saturday, September 27 are available online. The festival opens to public at 10am on Saturday, September 27 and runs until Sunday, October 5 on Grouse Mountain. A special family weekend is planned for Saturday, October 4 through Sunday, October 5. For detailed festival information, tickets, schedule and updates, visit: http://festival.artistsforconservation.org/.

About Artists for Conservation

Artists for Conservation (AFC) is the world's leading group of artists supporting the environment. Founded in 1997, the non-profit organization comprises a membership of 500 of the world's most gifted nature artists from 27 countries, across five continents. Dedicated to nurture, promote and leverage its world-class community of artists in support of our natural world, AFC drives its mission through three key programs: Art & Environmental Education; Field Work & Research; and Artist Development. The Artists for Conservation Festival is AFC's annual flagship initiative to showcase, support and further these programs. For more information, visit www.artistsforconservation.org.

About Grouse Mountain Resorts Limited

From sophisticated entertainment to unspoiled nature, Grouse Mountain is British Columbia's finest four-season destination offering experiences to suit every visitor. Located just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, this pristine wilderness attraction features the world-famous Grouse Mountain Skyride (North America's largest aerial tram system), which takes visitors on a one-mile journey to the Alpine Station - a breathtaking 3,700 feet above sea level.

Featuring unparalleled panoramic views of the city, sea and surrounding mountains and a summit altitude of 4,100 feet, Grouse Mountain offers a wide range of year-round outdoor and educational activities along with fine dining options to suit even the most discerning palate. With a long history dating back to Vancouver's earliest days, Grouse Mountain received its name in 1894 when a visiting hiking party encountered a blue grouse bird on the alpine slopes. Today, Grouse Mountain enjoys the status of Vancouver's most-visited attraction welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors each year. For more information, please visit grousemountain.com.