Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico - Since 2004 a group of artists and their friends have helped the non profit AMA Mexico to put on an annual fundraiser known as "Arts for The Turtles." Proceeds from the event support the work of the Nuevo Vallarta Turtle Preserve, which is dedicated to saving the sea turtles of Banderas Bay. Hosted by Bahia del Sol, the Preserve is the largest in the State of Nayarit.

This year's event will be held on Thursday, February 27th from 11 am to 2:30 pm at Bahia del Sol in Nuevo Vallarta, where you will find gifts galore, including metal art and sculpture, acrylic and watercolor paintings, art cards, jewelry, "Tortuga" t-shirts and caps, turtle art calendars, turtle books for children, and much more.

You can also enjoy gourmet foods, a bake sale, a flea market, live and silent auctions, a raffle drawing and a special lunch at the Sea Horse Restaurant on the beach, with proceeds benefitting the Nuevo Vallarta Sea Turtle Preserve.

A special booth at the event will feature this research along with information on the Olive Ridley sea turtles that nest here. So, in addition to artists who contribute their time and artwork, you will meet the well known "Turtleheads," who volunteer to give the nightly turtle talks at Liberation time.

In past years, the money raised has provided salaries for the Preserve's resident marine biologists and student interns, the purchase of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) used to collect nests from the beach between Mayan Palace and Bucerias, gasoline, maintenance and repairs to the ATVs, construction of incubation corrals and information centers, and the development and dissemination of educational materials throughout Nayarit. Arts for The Turtles also sponsors research projects on the impact of tourism on the sea turtles that nest on Nuevo Vallarta's beaches.

For more information on the February 27, 2014 'Arts for The Turtles' event, contact Ann Carlos at tigresa2555(at)gmail.com.