PITTSBURGH – Lions and tigers and cartoons – oh my! WQED Multimedia and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium are joining forces to bring the award-winning video series “Cartoon Academy with Joe Wos” to children and families at the Zoo.
Beginning Saturday, October 14, QR (Quick Response) codes will be displayed at four animal exhibits around the Zoo: the red kangaroo, Visayan warty pig, blacktip reef shark, and Philippine crocodile. When scanned with a smartphone or internet-connected device, each code will launch a page with links to short instructional videos, in which Joe Wos demonstrates how to draw each animal. See pittsburghzoo.org/wqed-cartoon-academy.
“We’re proud to partner with the Zoo again, building on the success of our last QR code project, IQ Zoo, which incorporated learning resources from PBS KIDS,” says Gina Masciola, WQED’s Vice President of Community Engagement.
Joe Wos will lead two live “draw-along” events at the Education Center at the Zoo at 11:00 a.m. and noon on October 14th. The first 300 children (age 12 and under) to enter the Zoo on Saturday will receive a free sketch kit that includes colored pencils and a sketchbook.
To draw out the fun, WQED and the Zoo will also host a “Drink and Draw” event for adults (age 21 and over) with Joe Wos and the Pittsburgh Zoo Animal Ambassadors. The event will be held at the Education Center in the Lecture Hall at the Zoo at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 9th. Tickets cost $45 and include one complimentary drink (including beer and wine), access to a cash bar, appetizers and prizes. Sign up at https://wqeddrinkanddraw.eventbrite.com/.
‘Cartoon Academy with Joe Wos’ was created to support the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s “Learning Neighborhoods” initiative. Learn more at wqed.org/cartoonacademy.
Internationally syndicated Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos takes viewers of all ages through the creative steps of drawing cartoon characters while sharing artistic terms, offering tips on developing skill, and working in educational facts about the characters and scenes. Beyond drawing, each episode is packed with additional educational opportunities on subjects ranging from social-emotional learning (SEL) – to science.
In October 2022, Cartoon Academy was recognized with two regional Emmy® Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Mid-Atlantic Chapter in the Education/Schools Short Form Content and Talent/Host categories. In August 2023, Cartoon Academy was nominated in the Education/Schools Long Form Content and Talent/Host categories.
Funding for this season of Cartoon Academy is provided by the Hans and Leslie Fleischner Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation.
About WQED
WQED Multimedia starts conversations and creates experiences that educate, entertain and inspire our neighbors in Pittsburgh and across southwest Pennsylvania. Founded in 1954 as an experiment in educational community-supported television, WQED was a forerunner to PBS.
Our content creators produce impactful stories that delve into the rich mosaic of our region’s past, present, and future. We cover a wide range of topics, from arts and culture to pressing societal issues that impact our lives. We profile remarkable individuals and organizations who work to strengthen our communities. Our Learning Neighborhoods support children, in partnership with area schools and libraries, and extend to high school students exploring media careers through the WQED Film Academy. Known as “The Voice of the Arts,” WQED-FM provides a vital platform that amplifies our vibrant and diverse cultural assets, including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
WQED Multimedia operates WQED-TV (PBS); WQED World; WQED Create; WQED Showcase; WQED PBS KIDS Channel; Classical WQED-FM 89.3/Pittsburgh; Classical WQEJ-FM 89.7/Johnstown; the Pittsburgh Concert Channel; plus various streams, apps, and interactive experiences.
About The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium connects people to wildlife, inspiring communities to conserve nature for future generations. The Zoo is one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the United States and is home to more than 8,000 animals representing over 600 species. The organization’s research and conservation projects are recognized globally and represented on all seven continents and five oceans.
As a regional attraction with a global impact, the Zoo is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, earning the Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating. The Zoo is American Humane Conservation-certified, a member of American Humane, and accredited by the Zoological Association of America.
For more information visit pittsburghzoo.org.