How to Enter
Step 6: Connect & Continue
SHARE YOUR WORK
Thank you for participating! You have contributed to the largest youth environmental arts collection in the world, and are part of Bow Seat’s global community of more than 38,000 young people and counting who are using their creative voices to speak up for our blue planet.
Share this opportunity with other artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians, dancers, digital media mavens, environmental activists, and ocean lovers you know! By giving young people an opportunity to think creatively about conservation, and a platform for you to express your ideas, we hope to create a wave of awareness and impact around the world. Tag us @fromthebowseat if you share your work online so we can spread the love!
2025 Contest winners will be announced in late November 2025.
Bow Seat judges are artists, writers, teachers, scientists, and of course, ocean-lovers! Each year, we also invite a cohort of Bow Seat student alumni and emerging artists to participate in Contest judging. Meet the team >
Judges consider:
- How well submissions address the annual theme of the Contest;
- Demonstration of artistic voice, originality, and imagination;
- Craftsmanship, including quality, technique, and skill in chosen medium; attention to detail; and accuracy in communicating issues; and
- If a submission meets category requirements (such as length, file type, etc.).
Judging begins immediately after the Contest ends, and we take the time to fairly judge each and every entry to the Contest. We receive thousands of entries, and our team of judges puts in thousands of hours of cumulative work each year reviewing your submissions.
We know that you’re anxious to hear Contest results. We take an enormous amount of pride in the care we put into the Contest, and we appreciate your patience as we continue to do so!
All student participants are required to provide the contact information for an Adult Sponsor. This can be a teacher, parent, guardian, mentor, coach, or other supporting adult.
Whether you are a teacher who assigned the Contest as a class project, a parent helping your child explore their creative potential, or an adult who was asked to be a sponsor for a student submitting on their own, your responsibilities are simple: all we need is to be able to contact you in case we have problems getting in touch with your sponsored student.
When your student submits their work, they will be asked to provide your name and email address. You will receive a confirmation email once they submit so that you can have it on record as well.
For Sponsors of Participating Students Under the Age of 13: Parent/Guardian Consent Forms are required for any participating student under the age of 13. On the first page of the online Contest submission form, select “Yes” to the question “Are you under 13 years old?” and choose an option:
- Provide Consent Electronically. This option sends an electronic Consent Letter to the parent or guardian specified for an e-signature.
- Upload Parent/Guardian Consent Form. This option allows you to upload a signed version of the PDF form. If you would like to upload multiple Consent Forms, combine all forms into one PDF or email the individual forms to us (see below).
- Email Parent/Guardian Consent Form. Choose this option if you would like to email us one or multiple signed Consent Forms, and we will add them to the student’s submission.
SPONSORS & TEACHERS FAQS
Do you have any resources on climate change and examples of climate heroes to feature in the Contest?
Yes! We have many resources in our Resource Studio—including articles, lesson plans, and videos—to help you and your student learn more about the Contest theme and to support project inspiration and planning. Be sure to join our mailing list for important updates about the Contest, as well as for featured resources and special opportunities.
I am a teacher with many submissions from my class. Can I submit on their behalf?
Yes. You may create a single account under your name and submit multiple entries on behalf of your class, but you must submit separate entries for each individual student, unless they are participating as a group.
EDUCATOR INNOVATION AWARDS
If you are a teacher or youth program coordinator who uses the Ocean Awareness Contest in your physical or virtual classroom, we want to hear from you! Bow Seat grants Educator Innovation Awards of $500 to acknowledge the efforts of individuals who teach students about conservation issues and empower them to be stewards of our blue planet, while meeting important educational standards. Educators can nominate themselves or a colleague. Learn more & apply >