Storytelling
Science
Grant Application Process
EMBEDDING STORYTELLING IN CONSERVATION
On the Edge is a not-for-profit multimedia and conservation organisation telling modern, pop-culture stories about the awe and wonder of nature to inspire a new audience. We exist because, as people, we've never been more disconnected and isolated from the natural world. This disconnection allows us to overlook the destruction taking place in nature. Our mission is to re-establish a connection by reconnecting humanity with the natural world on an emotional level.
We’re awarding x 3 storytelling grants across South America in 2024 to storytellers working to protect EDGE species or EDGE zones on the continent. Whether you’re a filmmaker, photographer, musician, artist, actor or creative, we want to hear from you!
Our new grant will focus on supporting conservationists and storytellers working mostly within EDGE Zones or on EDGE species. We want these grants to support conservation outcomes, raise awareness of EDGE zones as important biodiversity hotspots, and shine the spotlight on EDGE species, those who receive less conservation attention.
We want to inspire people worldwide to help protect the region’s wildlife. To do so, we have to transport them into nature and show them species and spaces in ways they have never seen before. And that’s where you come in.
Award: £5,000-£15,000 for storytellers over 1-2 years (conservation awards are made separately to this call).
Opportunity: x 3 storytelling grants filmmaker, photographer, musician, artist, actor or creative working to protect EDGE species or EDGE zones across South America.
We’ll pair storytellers with conservationists we’re funding (see projects below) unless you already have a connection to the project. This grant isn’t for creating a communications campaign around the conservationist and their work; rather, we want you to be inspired by their work and the species and spaces they’re working to protect. We want you to use storytelling as a way to change hearts and minds towards nature and boost the impact of conservation activities at a local level, shining a spotlight on species and spaces that are often overlooked.
Current Projects:
Peruvian Amazon – Stingless Bees, Reforestation & Indigenous Community Empowerment
Ecuador – Harlequin Toads Conservation
Cuba – Barton’s Robber Frog Conservation & Action Plan Development
Colombia – Great Green Macaw Conservation & Action Plan Development
Colombia – Cuban Lesser Funnel-eared Bat Conservation & Action Plan Development
Venezuela – Leatherback Turtle Conservation & Action Plan Development
EDGE Zones
EDGE Zones are beautifully biodiverse spaces that cover less than 1% of the world’s surface but are home to one-third of the world’s threatened evolutionary history. These hotspots are where many Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species live. There are 25 zones worldwide, including in the Western Ghats in India, the subtropical evergreen forests in North Vietnam, and the temperate forests of Eastern Australia.
Eligibility criteria
You must be a storyteller from South America. Storytellers can be of any background (filmmaker, photographer, musician, artist, actor, creative etc), and we encourage out-of-the-box thinkers! Your project must be centred around EDGE species and focus on local impact and engagement. Please submit a portfolio of work and explain which of the above projects you’d be interested in supporting.
Key Dates
Grant call opens in June 2024, and Awards will be made in September/October 2024.
How to Apply
Applications will open on our website on June 1st and further details regarding what to include in your proposal are provided below. Proposals should be submitted to On the Edge’s Director of Natural History, Dr Alex Bowmer's email. Applications can be submitted in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Closing date is August 1st 2024.
If you’re selected, you’ll receive one-to-one support to develop and deliver your project. You’ll also become part of our network, receiving mentorship, networking opportunities and training.
Submissions can be submitted in English, Spanish or Portuguese
What to include in your application:
We need to know a little more about you...
Name
DOB
Contact Information
Country of origin
Experience to date & qualifications
Portfolio of Work (submit this in any form you like)
Reference
Tell us about your project...
Statement of Interest: why do you want to work with the chosen species?
Project Summary: What story do you want to tell?
What EDGE species or Zones benefit from your project?
Why does this story need to be told?
What impact do you hope to achieve by telling this story/stories?
Why are you the person to tell this story?
Who is your audience? And how will you reach them?
Approximate Timeline
Approximate Budget
Do you have any training needs or requests?
Application Support
If you can’t answer the application questions now, On the Edge will work with you to develop a proposal that can. Please do feel free to reach out with any questions you have to our team.