Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

Scholarship Sponsored by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

Overview
The 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest — Your Story, Our Ocean — invites young creators to examine the many ways the ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us. Whether you live on the coast or far inland, consider your personal ties to the sea: how it influences daily life, culture, climate, food, art, and imagination. Review the contest sub-themes and choose the topics that speak to you. Then tell your ocean story through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. How does the ocean sustain, protect, and inspire you and your community?

A renewed focus
Ocean issues have been central to Bow Seat since the first Ocean Awareness Contest in 2012. Over the years students have explored topics from marine species protection and plastic pollution to climate impacts. As Bow Seat grows, we’re returning to a theme that has moved and motivated tens of thousands of young people: why the ocean matters. We know the threats—now we want to hear why protecting the ocean is essential to all of us.

Use the provided prompts as starting points for deeper investigation and creative work. Browse past winners for inspiration and explore Bow Seat’s Resource Studio, a hub for learning about climate change, ocean conservation, and how art can fuel environmental movements.

Who may enter
- Open to students worldwide, ages 11–18 at the time of entry.
- Enter the appropriate division based on your age on the submission date:
- Junior Division: ages 11–14
- Senior Division: ages 15–18
- Individuals and groups (clubs, classes, or teams of any size) may submit entries.
- Every participating student must list an Adult Sponsor (teacher, parent, mentor, etc.).
- Students who have begun college or university coursework are not eligible.

Accepted submission categories
- Visual Art: Handcrafted
- Visual Art: Digital
- Poetry & Spoken Word
- Creative Writing
- Film
- Performing Arts: Music & Dance
- Interactive & Multimedia

Please review the full submission requirements for each category before submitting.

Why enter
- Join Bow Seat’s global community of over 42,000 young creatives committed to ocean health, environmental justice, and climate action, contributing to the largest youth environmental arts collection worldwide.
- Expand your understanding of environmental issues and the natural world. The Resource Studio connects you with background information, artists, and organizations working to protect the ocean and offers ways to get involved.
- Develop communication, critical thinking, creative, and advocacy skills—use your work to raise awareness about pressing environmental challenges.
- Build your portfolio or try a new medium; participants receive a certificate of participation to include on resumes.
- Gain international exposure—Bow Seat presents student work through exhibitions, publications, social media campaigns, and scholarships to amplify youth voices in conservation and advocacy.
- Become eligible for special programs such as the Future Blue Youth Council. Alumni of the Contest have gone on to serve as Bow Seat interns and as judges.
- Compete for cash awards up to $1,000.

For ideas and guidance, visit the Resource Studio and review past winners. We look forward to seeing how the ocean has shaped your story.