The Ocean Awareness Contest is an annual contest for youth from around the world to explore environmental issues through visual art, creative writing, film, performing arts, and multimedia. Students ages 11-18 are invited to submit works that reflects humans’ actions and how it impacts the health of our blue planet for the chance to win crash prizes of up to $1000.
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program
Bow Seat Ocean Awareness program is a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts, USA committed to spreading a global message of care through the power of the arts to educate, inspire, and activate younger generations on how humans’ actions impact the health of our blue planet.
The Bow Seat Ocean Awareness program’s flagship educational initiative – the Ocean Awareness Contest, is the world’s largest environmental youth program for the creative arts and every submission becomes part of a growing collection of student work that is helping to raise awareness of the climate crisis, inspire protection for our oceans, and imagine a better future.
Contest prize
Cash awards are divided into the following for all winners in both categories – the Junior and Senior Division level:
- Golden award – $1000
- Silver award – $750
- Bronze award – $500
- Pearl award – $250
- Distinguished honorable mention – $100
- Honorable mention – $50
Eligibility
- This is an international Contest and is open to students ages 11-18 who are enrolled in middle school or high school (or the homeschool equivalent) worldwide. Proof of age, identity, or eligibility may be required.
- Students who have started college or university are not eligible to participate in the Contest.Students ages 11-14 may enter the Junior Division. Students ages 15-18 may enter the Senior Division. Please enter the age division based on your age at the time of entry.
- Participants under the age of 13 must have a parent or legal guardian complete a Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Parent/Guardian Consent Form with their submission.
- If you submit as a group, there must be one group leader who will serve as the contact person for the group.
- All of the names of the group members must be listed in the submission.
- All group members must meet age eligibility requirements (11-18 years old.)
- Award money will be split evenly among the group members.
- Submit in the age division of the group leader.
- A student may submit (i.e., have their name included in) only one entry per category. Therefore, a student may have a maximum of seven different submissions, one in each category.
How to apply
2025 Contest theme
The Ocean Awareness Contest theme changes every year and submissions are judged based on how well students address the annual theme which is Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside.
This theme encourages you to explore the natural world and your place in it. Go through the sub-themes and explore the topics that resonate with you. Share your relationship with the natural world through any of the following medium:
- Visual Art: Handcrafted
- Visual Art: Digital
- Poetry & Spoken Word
- Creative Writing
- Film
- Performing Arts: Music & Dance
- Interactive & Multimedia
Choose a category
When you come to submit, you are required to choose a category – each has it’s own requirements that you’ll need to review before submission. Students may submit one entry per category, meaning that you may enter up to seven pieces, one in each category. Note that if you submit more than one entry in a category (for example, two poems), additional entries will not be counted or judged.
Write a reflection
A written reflection is required to accompany your submission, regardless of category. Judges may consider the content of your reflection when evaluating your submission. Your reflection should describe:
- Your creative process.
- What you have learned through your exploration of the Ocean Awareness Contest theme.
Use the following questions to guide your writing:
- How did you come up with the idea for your piece?
- What inspired your work and creative process?
- How does being creative make you feel?
- Why did you choose the medium (oil paint, charcoal, ballet, film, pop music, etc.) you did?
- How have you engaged with this medium in the past?
- What have you learned through your exploration of the Contest theme, Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside?
- What is your message to viewers of your artwork?
Submission time
Students must create an account and submit their work through an online system. If you are submitting multiple works, you only need to create one account. Documents that will be required include:
- Your contact information
- Your submission (Visual Art: Handcrafted, Visual Art: Digital, Creative Writing, Film, Interactive & Multimedia, Performing Arts: Music & Dance, Poetry & Spoken Word)
- A title for your submission
- Your written reflection
- Works cited (if applicable): List of sources for any ideas, quotes, or facts used that are not your own
- Contact information for an adult sponsor (required for all participants)
- Parent/guardian consent (required if under 13 years old).
Application deadline
Application closes on June 9, 2025.
Don’t miss this opportunity and apply at the Ocean Awareness Contest website.
