2025 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

2025 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest is now open for entries!

2025 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest : The 2025 Ocean Awareness Contest, “Connections to Nature, Looking Inside, Going Outside“, encourages students to explore the natural world and their place in it through the lenses of generational knowledge, human health, urban environments, resiliency, and more.

➜ Short description

The 2025 Ocean Awareness Contest “Connections to Nature, Looking Inside, Going Outside“ – encourages students to explore the natural world and their place in it.

Organiser invite you to think about your unique connection to nature and how being outside makes you feel. There are so many different ways that you can connect to nature, whether that’s exploring the history of the land you live on, volunteering in the fight against climate change, or taking a restorative walk in your local park. Go through the sub-themes and explore the topics that resonate with you. Share your relationship with the natural world through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. What is your connection to nature?

You are invited to submit works of visual art, creative writing, poetry, spoken word, music, dance, film, and multimedia.

Entries must be submitted in English or have an English translation in order to be considered for judging. Videos may be in other languages with English subtitles.

Bow Seat judges are artists, writers, teachers, scientists, and ocean-lovers.

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.).

The 14th annual Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, explore their relationship to a changing world, and become advocates for positive change.

Winners will be announced by December 1, 2025.

➜ Who may enter?

This contest 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. Entries may be submitted by an individual or group of unlimited size.

➜ Prize:

Gold, Silver and Bronze Award winners, as well as Honorable Mention winners will be announced in each contest division. Several other special awards will be announced as well.