Contest Intro | Participating CELC Near You

Ocean Art Contest

Expressing the Importance of Our Ocean and Coastal Ecosystems Through Art

Art Contest Flyer (PDF, 6MB)
Submission and Entry and Release Form (doc, 155KB)

Contest Rules and Guidelines

Criteria | Judging | Winners | Rules/Enter

Criteria

Submissions:
Contestants must submit their artwork to the Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center (CELC) closest to them. Entries must be received no later than May 30, 2008.

Eligibility:
The contest is open to all students enrolled in grades K-12 and college and university students.
Contest Age Groups:

Group 1: Grades K-2
Group 2: Grades 3-5
Group 3: Grades 6-8
Group 4: Grades 9-12
Group 5: College and University Students

Art Work Requirements:

• Entries must be original paintings, drawings, photographs or other visual art work created by the contestant.
• Art work should reflect one of the seven Essential Principles of ocean literacy.
• Art work must be two dimensional and not exceed 24”x36”.
• A narrative, not to exceed 150 words, explaining the selection of the Essential Principles should be attached to the back of the art work.
• Contestant’s full name, grade, school, contact information, teacher/ facilitator’s name must be listed on the back of the art work.

Seven Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy
Art work must reflect one of the Seven Essential Principles:

1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth.
3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
4. The ocean makes Earth habitable.
5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
7. The ocean is largely unexplored.

For more information about the Essential Principles  visit http://www.coexploration.org/oceanliteracy/.

To download a copy of the Seven Essential Principles of Ocean Literacy brochure click here.

Judging (Back to Top)

Criteria
Art work will be judged on visual impact, communication of the principle, and artistic merit. Each CELC will select a panel of judges for the regional competition. The national competition will be judged by a panel of ocean experts and artists selected by Coastal America.

National Contest Judging Panel
Coastal America has selected an esteemed panel of ocean experts and artists to judge the National Ocean Art Contest. 

Judges include:

• Jim Toomey, Cartoonist
  Creator and author, Sherman’s Lagoon
  Illustrator, 50 Ways to Save the Ocean
  
• Wyland, Painter
  Wyland is best-known for his realistic and life sized murals than don buildings around the world.  One of his most recent works, “Year of the Reef” was unveiled in February 2008 in recognition of the International Year of the Reef.
  
• Bob Talbot, Photographer
  
• Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic

Winners (Back to Top)
Regional winners will be announced and their art work will be displayed at the sponsoring CELC. The first, second and third place winners’ art work from each age group at each CELC will be advanced to the national competition. For the national competition, a panel of judges will select first, second and third place winners in each age group from the entries submitted. The national competition first place winners from each age group will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a public announcement of the winners at a Coastal America ceremony that will be coordinated with the opening of the Smithsonian Ocean Hall in September 2008. The work of the national competition first, second and third place winners will be displayed at this award ceremony, and will then be exhibited at the Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History, from December 2008 through March 2009. The national competition winners will also be recognized with special awards and media coverage.

Rules and Conditions (Back to Top)
Please review the Release and Entry Form for license and ownership rules and regulations. Please read, fill out, sign and attach the Submission and Release and Entry Form with your art work upon submission to the CELC nearest you.

Enter at the CELC nearest you!

Submit your entry form and artwork to the CELC nearest you.  For a complete list of participating CELCs click here.