Marine Art Contest

2025 Contest Deadline: May 15th

Massachusetts Marine Educators, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and cosponsors invite students in grades K-12 to enter the free 2025 Marine Art Contest. The theme is “Exploring the Biological Diversity of the Gulf of Maine and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.” Art can depict one or more animals, show a predator-prey relationship, or illustrate diverse species in a sanctuary habitat. Judges prefer that the animals be depicted within the sanctuary, although images portraying species elsewhere in their natural ranges are acceptable.

Stellwagen Bank is one of only a few ocean and Great Lakes areas designated as National Marine Sanctuaries. This treasured place within the Gulf of Maine is located just off the Massachusetts coast at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay. Historically, its fish stocks supported the growth of the nation, while its whales now enhance the region’s ecotourism industry. In addition to fishes and whales, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and the wider Gulf of Maine are renowned for their natural productivity and biological diversity, including a wide variety of seabirds and invertebrates. Students are challenged to explore the array of species and then depict one or more animals in their artwork. Images showing predator-prey relationships and habitat scenes are also encouraged.

Students are encouraged to create artistic interpretations of these local species.

There are 5 divisions in the contest with a winner, second and third place selected from each division. We congratulate all of the talented students who have participated in this contest in the past. See their winning entries HERE.

Winning entries will be posted on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Website, as well as used by the Sanctuary and MME in their outreach programs.

Notification and certificates will be sent to the participating teachers or individual students at their schools.

Please contact Anne Smrcina with any questions regarding the contest at

anne.smrcina1@gmail.com