2026 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Bow Seat's 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest—Your Story, Our Ocean—encourages students to explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us. Bow Seat invites them to think about their personal connection to the ocean—whether they’re coastal or landlocked—through the value it brings to their life. The benefits of the ocean are widespread and multifaceted, from food production to climate regulation to artistic inspiration. Students can go through the sub-themes and explore the topics that resonate with them. They can share how the ocean has shaped their story through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. How does the ocean sustain, protect, and inspire them?
Be sure to check out Bow Seat's past winners and explore the broader Resource Studio for ideas and guidance.
Quick Contest Details:
- free to enter
- open to students worldwide between ages 11–18
- cash awards up to $1,000
Submissions accepted in:
- Visual Art: Handcrafted
- Visual Art: Digital
- Creative Writing
- Film
- Poetry & Spoken Word
- Performing Arts
- Interactive & Multimedia
Explore the Submission Requirements to learn more about the Categories.