NOAA and our partners offer several art contests and campaigns that engage creative minds in Earth science. In honor of Youth Art Month in March, this gallery showcases ocean priorities, marine species, and conservation issues through the eyes of student artists.
Feeling inspired? Consider submitting your own creations and check out our other at-home art activities.
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- UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: #DrawYourDecade
- Marine Endangered Species Art Contest
- Keep the Sea Free of Debris
- K-12 Marine Art Contest focusing on sanctuary biodiversity
What do you want the ocean to look like in ten years? The #DrawYourDecade social media campaign invites youth around the world to explore this question while engaging in the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development offsite link (2021-2030). This campaign aims to draw out young people’s collective priorities for the next ten years of the ocean to incorporate into the implementation of the UN Ocean Decade. In May 2020, the National Ocean Sciences Bowl offsite link offered a #DrawYourDecade competition, and early-career ocean professionals from NOAA and other organizations selected these top three winners.
Although the National Ocean Sciences Bowl’s competition has closed, young people everywhere are invited to share their vision for advancing the goals of the Ocean Decade offsite link by posting their artwork with the hashtag, #DrawYourDecade.
![Illustration of a sea turtle underwater. In the background, the ocean shows signs of environmental degradation including plastic debris, a seabird caught in a fishing net, and a whale skeleton. The dome of the turtle's shell contains a scene of a thriving coral reef that glows bright against the otherwise dark illustration. (Image credit: Lexington High School/National Ocean Sciences Bowl) Illustration of a sea turtle underwater. In the background, the ocean shows signs of environmental degradation including plastic debris, a seabird caught in a fishing net, and a whale skeleton. The dome of the turtle's shell contains a scene of a thriving coral reef that glows bright against the otherwise dark illustration.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/DrawYourDecadeLexingtonNOSB.jpg)
![Illustration shows a cartoon silhouette of a person saluting and looking ready for action is filled with colorful photos of ocean data, technology, recreation, and science as well as the United Nations and NOAA logos. The background contains black-and-white photos of ocean activities, including ocean pollution and degradation. (Image credit: Joy A./National Ocean Sciences Bowl) Illustration shows a cartoon silhouette of a person saluting and looking ready for action is filled with colorful photos of ocean data, technology, recreation, and science as well as the United Nations and NOAA logos. The background contains black-and-white photos of ocean activities, including ocean pollution and degradation.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/DrawYourDecadeJoyA.jpg)
![Youth artwork shows a stylized silhouette of a hammerhead shark that is filled with marine debris, including a razor, cotton swap, plastic bag, toothbrush, straw, water bottle, and rope. It is set on a background of tropical leaves. (Image credit: Isabella R./National Ocean Sciences Bowl) Youth artwork shows a stylized silhouette of a hammerhead shark that is filled with marine debris, including a razor, cotton swap, plastic bag, toothbrush, straw, water bottle, and rope. It is set on a background of tropical leaves.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/NOSB_DRAWING400.jpg)
NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region encourages artists in kindergarten through grade 12 to celebrate marine endangered species. While the contest focuses on species native to New England and the Mid-Atlantic, students anywhere are welcome to participate. Winning artwork goes on display on the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office’s website and Facebook page and is featured in an online calendar. Submissions for 2021 are due by email to edith.carson-supino@noaa.gov on Friday, April 23, 2021.
![Child’s artwork depicting a watercolor sea turtle swimming in the ocean. (Image credit: Sofia B., 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest) Child’s artwork depicting a watercolor sea turtle swimming in the ocean.](/sites/default/files/styles/sc_800x450/public/legacy/image/2021/Mar/FriendlySeas.jpg?itok=J6j4iWkR)
![Child’s artwork depicting Oceanic whitetip sharks swimming along a sandy ocean floor. Smaller fish surround the school of sharks. (Image credit: Sewon C., 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest) Child’s artwork depicting Oceanic whitetip sharks swimming along a sandy ocean floor. Smaller fish surround the school of sharks.](/sites/default/files/styles/sc_800x450/public/legacy/image/2021/Mar/OceanicWhitetipShark.png?itok=f8RcWpg9)
![Child’s sculptured sea turtles caught in a net on a sandy beach. (Image credit: Kinley R., 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest) Child’s sculptured sea turtles caught in a net on a sandy beach.](/sites/default/files/styles/sc_800x450/public/legacy/image/2021/Mar/EndangeredTurtles.jpg?itok=oFeUKxYA)
![Child’s artwork depicting a sea turtle swimming about underwater grasses in the ocean. (Image credit: Sofia F., 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest) Child’s artwork depicting a sea turtle swimming about underwater grasses in the ocean.](/sites/default/files/styles/sc_800x450/public/legacy/image/2021/Mar/Survivor.jpg?itok=mjeD5b-r)
![Child’s sculpture depicting a sperm whale that is made out of plastic grocery bags. (Image credit: Glory C., 2020 Marine Endangered Species Art Contest) Child’s sculpture depicting a sperm whale that is made out of plastic grocery bags.](/sites/default/files/styles/sc_800x450/public/legacy/image/2021/Mar/WrappedUpSpermWhale.jpg?itok=wId_7dGV)
The NOAA Marine Debris Program holds this annual art contest to reach kindergarten through eighth grade students and help raise awareness about marine debris. The winning submissions are featured in a calendar to remind us all that we can be responsible stewards of the ocean every day. The winners of the 2022 calendar will be announced in the spring, and the Marine Debris Art Contest will re-open in fall 2021.
![Text: Help our sea creatures! Image: Child’s artwork depicting an octopus, seahorse, and other marine creatures in the ocean. The octopus has a balloon wrapped around one of it's arms and the balloon reads, "Help me!" There is other marine debris, like plastic bottles and straws, floating around the animals. (Image credit: Clayton K., NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest) Text: Help our sea creatures! Image: Child’s artwork depicting an octopus, seahorse, and other marine creatures in the ocean. The octopus has a balloon wrapped around one of it's arms and the balloon reads, "Help me!" There is other marine debris, like plastic bottles and straws, floating around the animals.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/NOAAMarineDebrisProgramArtContest_Clayton.jpg)
![Child’s artwork depicting an underwater scene featuring jellyfish, coral, fish, a sea turtle, and an octopus. It reads, “Marine debris is BAD.” The word “BAD” is written in large block letters, and inside the letters are illustrations of litter, including cups, broken bottles, plastic bags, plastic cutlery, cans, an apple core, and a knife. (Image credit: Selina S., 2020 Annual NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest) Child’s artwork depicting an underwater scene featuring jellyfish, coral, fish, a sea turtle, and an octopus. It reads, “Marine debris is BAD.” The word “BAD” is written in large block letters, and inside the letters are illustrations of litter, including cups, broken bottles, plastic bags, plastic cutlery, cans, an apple core, and a knife.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/NOAAMarineDebrisProgramArtContest_Selina.jpg)
![Text: Keep it green and keep it clean. Image: Child’s artwork depicting a fish stuck in a bottle that rests on the sandy ocean floor. (Image credit: Francisco V., NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest) Text: Keep it green and keep it clean. Image: Child’s artwork depicting a fish stuck in a bottle that rests on the sandy ocean floor.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/NOAAMarineDebrisProgramArtContest_Francisco.jpg)
![Text: Do you see the difference between plastic bags and jellyfish? Turtles don't! Image: Child’s artwork depicting a sea turtle in the ocean that is surrounded by jellyfish and plastic bags. The turtle is coughing up a plastic bag because it mistook the marine debris as a jellyfish. (Image credit: Ceirra C., NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest) Text: Do you see the difference between plastic bags and jellyfish? Turtles don't! Image: Child’s artwork depicting a sea turtle in the ocean that is surrounded by jellyfish and plastic bags. The turtle is coughing up a plastic bag because it mistook the marine debris as a jellyfish.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/NOAAMarineDebrisProgramArtContest_Ceirra.jpg)
![Child’s artwork depicting two dolphins surfacing with a sunset in the background. The ocean waves read the repetitive word "plastic" and the rays from the sun read "pollution." The dolphins have marine debris inside their bodies, such as plastic, straws, and other items. (Image credit: Kate D., NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest) Child’s artwork depicting two dolphins surfacing with a sunset in the background. The ocean waves read the repetitive word "plastic" and the rays from the sun read "pollution." The dolphins have marine debris inside their bodies, such as plastic, straws, and other items.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/NOAAMarineDebrisProgramArtContest_Kate.jpg)
The 2021 Marine Art Contest, co-sponsored by Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the Massachusetts Marine Educators offsite link, is now underway. The deadline for online entries is May 7, 2021. With submission topics ranging from tiny plankton to giant whales, students from anywhere in the world are invited to submit artwork that explores the biodiversity of Stellwagen Bank sanctuary. “By learning to appreciate these creatures, we hope it instills a sense of stewardship for the national marine sanctuary and the ocean in general," said Anne Smrcina, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary education coordinator and marine art contest director. Winning art is posted on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary website and co-sponsors provide a variety of prizes. See the contest brochure for rules and an entry form or write to stellwagen@noaa.gov for more information.
![Watercolor illustration of a sea angel (a type of swimming sea slug) and a sea butterfly (a type of swimming sea snail). (Image credit: Kenzie M./Marine Art Contest for Grades K-12) Watercolor illustration of a sea angel (a type of swimming sea slug) and a sea butterfly (a type of swimming sea snail).](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/1-Kenzie-age10-gr4-LincolnRI-mail-in.jpg)
![Highly detailed watercolor illustration of a basket star. (Image credit: Jasmine W./Marine Art Contest for Grades K-12) Highly detailed watercolor illustration of a basket star.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/1-Jasmine%2CW-age11-gr6-TheMeadowbrookSchoolofWeston.jpg)
![Painting of a krill outlined in white against a dark background. The faint silhouette of a baleen whale opening its mouth emerges from the background. (Image credit: Queena W./Marine Art Contest for Grades K-12) Painting of a krill outlined in white against a dark background. The faint silhouette of a baleen whale opening its mouth emerges from the background.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/3-Queena.W-age16-gr11-NoQuincyHS.jpg)
![Digital illustration of a snorkeler observing an ocean sunfish underwater. (Image credit: Sophia S./Marine Art Contest for Grades K-12) Digital illustration of a snorkeler observing an ocean sunfish underwater.](/sites/default/files/legacy/image/2021/Mar/2-2020-cg.png)