Bow Seat’s 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest – Your Story, Our Ocean – encourages youth to explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us. Bow Seat invites young creatives to think about their personal connection to the ocean – whether coastal or landlocked – through the value it brings to their lives. The benefits of the ocean are widespread and multifaceted, from food production to climate regulation to artistic inspiration. Go through the sub-themes and explore the topics that resonate with you. Share how the ocean has shaped your story through art, writing, performance, film, or multimedia. How does the ocean sustain, protect, and inspire you?
Be sure to check out Bow Seat’s past winners and explore the broader Resource Studio for ideas and guidance.
Quick Contest Details:
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Free to enter
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Open to students worldwide between the ages of 11-18
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Submit by June 8, 2026
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Submissions accepted in:
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Visual Art: Handcrafted
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Visual Art: Digital
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Creative Writing
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Film
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Poetry & Spoken Word
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Performing Arts
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Interactive & Multimedia
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Explore the Submission Requirements to learn more about the different categories.
About Bow Seat:
Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation is the world’s largest environmental youth program for the creative arts, and our mission is to empower youth to connect, create, and communicate for our planet. Since 2011, Bow Seat has engaged over 44,000 students from more than 140 countries and all 50 U.S. states. We have given over $800,000 in awards and aim to create supportive communities where young people can learn and grow.
