A ceremony honoring the winners of the national children’s drawing competition “Qyzyl Book Art: Dala Qazynasy” was held in Astana. The project was implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and initiated by the Creative Industries Development Fund.

The competition aims to promote Kazakhstan’s natural heritage, raise awareness of rare and endangered animal and plant species listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, and foster environmental awareness among the younger generation.

Schoolchildren from all regions of Kazakhstan took part in the competition in three age categories: Grades 1–4, Grades 5–8, and Grades 9–12. More than 1,180 drawings were submitted in two categories: “Animals Listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan” and “Plants Listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan.” Following the competition, the expert panel selected 18 outstanding works.

In addition, winners were selected in four special categories: “Best Environmental Message,” “Best Artistic Interpretation,” “Best Digital Artwork,” and “Youngest Talent.”

Another special category was the “People’s Choice Award.” It was awarded to Madi Ospan, a student at the Republican School of Physics and Mathematics in Astana, who received the highest number of votes in an open online poll held from August 19 to September 4, 2026.

The participants’ works were evaluated by an expert panel comprising specialists in art, design, ecology, and museum studies.