Programs

REVIEW THE THEME & PROMPTS

The Ocean Awareness Contest theme changes every year. Be sure to review the description of the 2021 theme, WATER RISING, before starting your piece. Submissions are judged based on how well they address the annual theme. Your submission should respond to one of the prompts listed in Step 2 below.

READ THE RULES

This is an international contest open to students ages 11-18. Make sure you read all of the Contest rules, submission requirements, and other details before you get started.

DO RESEARCH & GET INSPIRED

We have many resources on our website to help you get started on your submission. Explore Bow Seat’s Resource Studio⁠—a unique, curated space that includes inspirational artwork, journalistic media, primary literature, interactive quizzes, videos, and more—to learn about water’s connection to climate change, health, justice, and culture; find artists and organizations taking action for our blue planet; and discover how you can get involved in protecting our most vital resource.

Visual Art submissions may include:

Visual Art Submission Requirements:

• Accepted file types: JPG, PNG, GIF, or PDF.
• You may submit up to 3 images (different angles or details) of your submission.
• Make sure your files are high resolution, not crooked, and can easily be viewed.

Reflection (required): All submissions must include a written reflection (artist’s statement) of at least 100 words. This will be a separate question on the submission form. Review reflection requirements >

Works Cited (if applicable): Include a bibliography (any style) crediting sources and citing any ideas, facts, quotes, or existing media used in your artwork that are not your own.

We encourage you to learn from and be inspired by other environmental artists and designers as you create your piece. If your submission is influenced by someone else’s work of art, or if your submission uses someone else’s image/artwork/photograph as a reference, you must give credit to the original source in the works cited section.

Submissions may include fiction (e.g., short stories) or creative nonfiction (e.g., personal narratives, blog posts, or journalistic writing). View student work in this category >

Creative Writing Submission Requirements:

• Document should be in 12-point type, Times New Roman font; double-spaced with 1-inch margins.
• Include the title of your work at the beginning of this document. Do not include identifying information such as student name and school.
• Accepted file types: Word documents (.doc or .docx) or PDF
• Your submission must be written in English.
• Submission length:
  • Junior Division: Up to 3 pages (approximately 750 words)
  • Senior Division: Up to 5 pages (approximately 1,250 words)

Reflection (required): All submissions must include a written reflection (artist’s statement) of at least 100 words. This will be a separate question on the submission form. Review reflection requirements >

Works Cited (if applicable): Use in-text citations (parenthetical or footnotes, in any style) and include a bibliography (any style) for any ideas, facts, and quotes that are not your own. Works cited are not included in submission length.

Submissions may include (but are not limited to) narrative films, live action films, hand-drawn or computer-generated animation, documentaries, or experimental film. View student work in this category >

Film Submission Requirements:

• Films must be 2-4 minutes in length.
• Upload your film to YouTube or Vimeo and provide the public URL on the submission form. Ensure that your video is not private.
• Include a title and credits in the film itself for any information, images, audio, or video clips that are not your own. Bow Seat encourages you to use original, copyright-free, or public domain images, footage, and music.
• Name your film as “2021 Ocean Awareness Contest – Film Title”
• Your submission must be in English or have English subtitles if narration is in a language other than English.

Reflection (required): All submissions must include a written reflection (artist’s statement) of at least 100 words. This will be a separate question on the submission form. Review reflection requirements >

Works Cited (if applicable): Include a bibliography (any style) crediting sources and citing any ideas, facts, quotes, or existing media used in your work that are not your own.

The Interactive & Multimedia category invites submissions that integrate creative communication and interactive or participatory elements, or which combine three or more of the other submission categories. Submissions may include, but are not limited to:

• Websites or Apps
• Social Media Campaigns
• Games (video games or board games)
• Installations
• Podcasts

Note: Digital paintings and graphic design should be submitted in the Visual Art category. Animated films should be submitted in the Film category. Please contact us if you have questions about Interactive & Multimedia submissions.

Interactive & Multimedia Submission Requirements:

• Interactive & Multimedia submissions must include a short written description of your concept or description of use (for example: instructions of app use; gameplay summary; description of viewer interaction; or description of how the submission combines multiple categories or media forms). This will be a separate question on the submission form.
• You must provide up to 5 images, screenshots, or supporting text documents that illustrate your work. Accepted file types: JPG, PDF, PNG, GIF, or Word (.doc or .docx)
• You may also provide a link to browser-based works, as well as a video of gameplay or demonstrating projects in use (optional). If provided, videos must be shorter than 5 minutes and uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo (ensure they are not private).
• Audio files in MP3 format may also be uploaded (optional). If you are creating a podcast, we recommend an episode length of 5-15 minutes, and you must provide a written script.

Reflection (required): All submissions must include a written reflection (artist’s statement) of at least 100 words. This will be a separate question on the submission form. Review reflection requirements >

Works Cited (if applicable): Include a bibliography (any style) crediting sources and citing any ideas, facts, quotes, or existing media used in your work that are not your own.

Submissions may be original compositions or song parodies in any musical genre, or dance performances in any style. View student work in this category >

Performing Arts Submission Requirements:

• Record a video of yourself performing the work. The video may include other images or video, but must contain footage of your performance* or composition process. (*Screen captures of digital instruments are acceptable for electronic or digital music.)
• Submissions should be 2-4 minutes in length.
• Upload your performance to YouTube or Vimeo and provide the public URL on the submission form. Ensure that your video is not private.
• Name your video as “2021 Ocean Awareness Contest – Title”
• If your submission has lyrics, you must upload a Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF document of your song lyrics (in English). You may include lyrics as captions in the video (recommended). If your song is performed in a language other than English, you must provide an English translation of the lyrics.
• Include a title and credits in the video for any information, images, audio, or video clips that are not your own. Bow Seat encourages you to use original, copyright-free, or public domain images, footage, and music.

Reflection (required): All submissions must include a written reflection (artist’s statement) of at least 100 words. This will be a separate question on the submission form. Review reflection requirements >

Works Cited (if applicable): Include a bibliography (any style) crediting sources and citing any ideas, facts, or quotes used in your work that are not your own. If you create a song parody, you must clearly credit the original songwriter. Bow Seat encourages you to use original, copyright-free, or public domain images, footage, and music.

Submissions may be free or formal verse, or spoken word poetry. View student work in this category >

Poetry & Spoken Word Submission Requirements:

• Format your submission in 12-point type, Times New Roman font, single-spaced with 1-inch margins.
• Include the title of your poem at the top of the page. Do not include identifying information such as student name and school.
• Accepted file types: Word documents (.doc or .docx) or PDF
• Your submission must be written in English.
• Submission length:
  • Junior Division: no more than 1 page
  • Senior Division: no more than 2 pages

Reflection (required): All submissions must include a written reflection (artist’s statement) of at least 100 words. This will be a separate question on the submission form. Review reflection requirements >

Works Cited (if applicable): Include a bibliography (any style) crediting sources and citing any ideas, facts, or quotes used in your work that are not your own. Works cited are not included in submission length.

Spoken Word Video (optional): You may include a video of you performing your poem. You must upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and provide the video URL in your online submission form. Please ensure that your video is not private. Do NOT submit a Word or PDF document with a link to the video.

The 2021 Ocean Awareness Contest results will be announced in November 2021. Winners and their sponsors will be notified via email before the results are publicly announced.

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 water and its connection to climate, health, justice, and culture?

Yes! We have many resources in our Resource Studio—including articles, lesson plans, and videos—to help you and your student learn more about issues related to water, 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.

View all Contest FAQs >

EDUCATOR INNOVATION AWARDS

If you are a teacher or youth program coordinator who uses the 2021 Contest in your physical or virtual classroom, we want to hear from you! Bow Seat grants Educator Innovation Awards of $750 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 >

Competition Period

• All submissions must be received by June 14, 2021, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) to be considered in the 2021 Ocean Awareness Contest. The online platform will close automatically at the Contest deadline. Please plan accordingly!

Who May Enter

• 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 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. Learn more >
• Entries may be submitted by an individual or group of unlimited size. 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. Award money will be split evenly among the group members.
• A student may submit (i.e., have their name included in) only one entry per category. Therefore, a student may have a maximum of six different submissions, one in each category.

How to Enter

• There is no fee to enter the Contest.
• Students must create an account and submit their work through our online system by the Contest deadline June 14, 2021, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET). Bow Seat cannot accept submissions via email or physical mail.
• Students must provide the contact information for an Adult Sponsor: a teacher, parent, guardian, mentor, or other supporting adult.
• Entries submitted previously to the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest will not be considered in the 2021 Contest. Submissions must be created during the 2020-21 academic year (or between July 2020 and June 2021).
• All entries must be the students’ original work. While we recognize that existing sources will be used for inspiration and research, Bow Seat reserves the right to disqualify an entry at any time if we suspect or determine plagiarism.
• Entries must be submitted in English or have an English translation in order to be considered for judging.

Additional

• By entering the Ocean Awareness Contest, you agree to Bow Seat’s Terms of Use.
• Bow Seat promises to run this Contest fairly, ethically, and with integrity.
• All judging decisions are final.
• All winners and their sponsors will be notified by email before they are publicly announced.
• Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs reserves the right to use students’ work for marketing and promotional purposes in any and all media.
• Winners will be required to verify their eligibility by completing an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release, and, where lawful, a Publicity Release during the award claim process.