UK FUNGUS DAY 2020: FANTASY FUNGUS COMPETITION!

THE BRIEF:

To celebrate UK Fungus Day 2020, we’ve devised a competition that allows you guys to get creative! Whether it be junk model mushrooms, sculpted toadstools or fungi made from the clothes in your wardrobe, we want you to invent your own fantasy fungus using anything you can find in your home (or garden). Then just take a photo, tell us a bit about your fungus, and send it on over to us. We want you to leave those pencils, paints and paper on the shelf and think CREATIVE! Could you fashion a fantastic toadstool out of an old hat and an empty bottle? What about a beautiful coral fungus out of socks? With over 12,000 fungi in the UK to choose from there should be plenty to inspire you, especially with names like the ‘Octopus stinkhorn’, or King Alfred’s cakes’. We’d love to see what fascinating names and creations you can come up with. Every fungal creation, big or small will be celebrated and judged as a unique piece of art.

HOW TO ENTER:

Simply create your fungus, take a photo and email it over to us along with the completed form downloaded from the ENTRY FORM link below.

The competition is divided into three age categories:

0 - 11 years

12 - 17 years

18+ (Big kids)

Your work will be judged by a specially chosen panel combined esteemed mycologists and fungi lovers. Professor Lynne Boddy is one of the UK’s most esteemed mycologists - a pioneer in the field of fungal decomposition (the recyclers!) who has many tv appearances to her name, not to mention over 250 papers she’s had published! Martin Bidartando is Professor of Molecular Ecology at Imperial College and an Honorary Research Associate at the Royal Botanic

Gardens, Kew. He is an expert on the symbioses between fungi and plant roots. Mariana Heilmann is an accomplished artist, with a particular interest in fungi as her chosen subject matter. And finally, Ali McKernan (aka The FUNgi Guy) who is an enthusiast for all things fungi, and a fungal artist in his own right. There is a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize in each age category, with a selection of our favourites being displayed in our online gallery at the UK Fungus Day Website and social media pages. 

 

Meet the Judges 

(click  the link above to view videos)

 

(Click on any one of the fantasy fungus example images below to see a larger version

0-11 years:

1st prize: BMS goodie bag plus a fungi guide book, felt tips and coloured pencils 

2nd prize: BMS goodie bag plus a fungi guidebook, coloured pencils                   

3rd prize: BMS goodie bag plus guide  

12 - 17 years:

1st prize: BMS goodie bag plus a fungi guide book, felt tips and coloured pencils 

2nd prize: BMS goodie bag plus felt tips and coloured pencils                   

3rd prize: BMS goodie bag plus coloured pencils 

18+ (Big kids):

1st prize: BMS goodie bag plus a fungi guide book, felt tips and coloured pencils and a years subscription to Field Mycology magazine! 

2nd prize: BMS goodie bag plus felt tips and coloured pencils                   

3rd prize: BMS goodie bag plus coloured pencils 

ENTRY FORM

Please Read The Instructions, and all Terms and Conditions Carefully

 

Deadline for entry is Wednesday 20th September. Winners will be announced on UK Fungus day - Saturday 3rd October. Please email your entries (1 per person) to

funguscompetition@britmycolsoc.info  Please make sure your entry form and photograph are attached separately,(Jpeg/Gif) for use in publications on our website. 

Good Luck!

Terms and Conditions:

All work submitted must be your own

Up to 3 submissions per person

By entering the competition, you are giving permission for the BMS and UKFD to use your entry on their website and social media pages.

Whilst the BMS reserves the right to publish your artwork, the creator still owns the creative rights to this image.