Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

Scholarship Sponsored by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

Description

**Theme:** This year’s Contest asks participants to reflect on their personal connection to the ocean by exploring how it sustains, protects, and inspires individuals and communities. The focus is on personal stories and creative responses that demonstrate the ocean’s value across food, climate, culture, and wellbeing. Entrants may respond through artistic, literary, performative, cinematic, or multimedia formats.

**Creative scope:** Submissions should center on the prompt—how the ocean shapes your life and community—and may take any of the accepted media forms listed in the contest rules. Work should be original and clearly connected to the theme.

Key takeaways
- Explore how the ocean sustains, protects, or inspires you or your community.
- Responses may be artistic, literary, performance-based, filmic, or multimedia.
- Entries must make a clear thematic connection to the prompt.
- Originality and personal perspective are emphasized.

Contest Focus (A New Challenge)

**Context:** The Contest returns to a core question: beyond threats and challenges, what value does the ocean bring to our lives? This edition invites deeper inquiry into why protecting the ocean matters and how it contributes to culture, health, and resilience. The prompt is intentionally broad to encourage varied perspectives and creative approaches.

**Objective:** The goal is to stimulate personal reflection and public awareness through youth-created work that highlights the ocean’s benefits and motivates stewardship.

Key takeaways
- Emphasis shifts from only documenting threats to articulating the ocean’s value.
- Prompts encourage reflection on sustenance, protection, and inspiration.
- The Contest seeks creative work that can inform and motivate others.
- Broad thematic scope supports diverse interpretations and media.

Eligibility

**Age divisions:** Students worldwide aged 11–18 may enter. Choose the division that matches your age at time of entry: Junior (11–14) or Senior (15–18).

**Participant requirements:** Individuals, classes, clubs, or groups of any size may submit entries. All student entrants must provide contact information for an Adult Sponsor (teacher, parent, mentor). Students who have started college or university are not eligible.

Key takeaways
- Open to global students ages 11–18.
- Two divisions: Junior (11–14) and Senior (15–18).
- Individual and group entries accepted.
- An Adult Sponsor contact is required; college students cannot participate.

Submission Categories

**Accepted mediums:** The Contest accepts a broad range of creative forms to accommodate different strengths and interests. Categories include handcrafted and digital visual art, poetry/spoken word, creative writing, film, performing arts (music & dance), and interactive/multimedia.

**Submission requirements:** Each category has specific technical and format requirements. Entrants must review the full submission guidelines before entering to ensure eligibility and compliance.

Key takeaways
- Categories: Visual Art (Handcrafted), Visual Art (Digital), Poetry & Spoken Word, Creative Writing, Film, Performing Arts (Music & Dance), Interactive & Multimedia.
- Follow category-specific technical and content rules.
- Review the official submission checklist prior to entry.

Resources & Support

**Resource Studio:** The Contest provides an online Resource Studio designed to support research, creative development, and environmental literacy. It offers background on climate and ocean issues, examples of creative approaches, and connections to organizations and artists active in ocean conservation.

**Examples & guidance:** Past winners and sample submissions are available as inspiration and practical models. Use these resources to refine your concept, learn standards for each media type, and plan your entry.

Key takeaways
- Resource Studio supplies research, creative prompts, and practical guidance.
- Explore past winners for examples and inspiration.
- Resources help bridge environmental topics with artistic techniques.
- Use materials to develop both content and presentation quality.

Why Participate

**Community & learning:** Entering connects you to a global network of young creatives engaged in ocean issues and climate action. Participation fosters environmental knowledge and situates your work within a broader youth-led movement.

**Skills & exposure:** The process develops communication, critical thinking, creativity, and advocacy skills. It also provides opportunities to build a portfolio and gain public visibility for your work.

Key takeaways
- Join a global community of youth creatives focused on ocean stewardship.
- Learn about ocean and climate issues through research and creative practice.
- Develop transferable skills in communication and advocacy.
- Use participation to expand your portfolio and creative experience.

Awards & Recognition

**Award value:** The Contest offers cash awards up to $1,000. Award tiers and numbers vary by year and are detailed in the official rules for each contest cycle.

**Recognition & opportunities:** Winners and notable entries receive public exposure through exhibitions, publications, and social media campaigns. Participants earn certificates of participation and may be eligible for special programs and roles, including youth councils, internships, and future judging opportunities.

Key takeaways
- Cash awards available, with amounts up to $1,000.
- Winning work can be showcased in exhibitions and publications.
- Participation may open doors to councils, internships, and judging roles.
- All entrants can receive a participation certificate.

How to Apply & Timeline

**Application steps:** Prepare an original work that aligns with the theme, select the correct age division and category, and gather an Adult Sponsor contact. Follow the submission instructions and format specifications for your chosen category.

**Deadlines & review:** The Contest runs on an annual cycle; specific deadlines and review timelines change each year. Check the official contest website for the current entry period, required materials, and scoring criteria.

Key takeaways
- Create work that addresses the theme and fits one category.
- Include the Adult Sponsor contact and required entry forms.
- Adhere strictly to category formatting and technical rules.
- Visit the contest website for current deadlines and submission windows.

History of the Award

**Origins:** The Ocean Awareness Contest began in 2012 as part of Bow Seat’s mission to engage young people in ocean conservation through the arts. Since inception, the Contest has invited students to respond to ocean-related issues using creative media.

**Evolution:** Over the years the Contest has adapted topical prompts—addressing marine conservation, plastic pollution, and climate change—and has reached tens of thousands of young people worldwide. This edition re-centers the prompt on the ocean’s value to deepen personal and community perspectives.

Key takeaways
- Launched in 2012 to combine youth creativity with ocean advocacy.
- Evolved to cover various ocean-related themes over time.
- Has engaged tens of thousands of students globally.
- Current edition refocuses on articulating the ocean’s value.