Expressing the Importance of Our Ocean and Coastal Ecosystems Through Art

The Coastal America Ocean Art Contest has been created to use art to provide a visual expression of the importance of the ocean through the seven Essential Principles of ocean literacy created by the Ocean Literacy Network. The purpose is to enhance public awareness of the importance of the ocean and to convey how personal actions affect the ocean. It is intended that the artists will raise ocean stewardship through the paintings, drawings and photographs they create.

Grand prize winners’ artwork will be displayed at the Smithsonian, National Museum of Natural History from December 2008 to March 2009. To learn more about the Smithsonian NMNH visit http://www.mnh.si.edu/.

Thank you for participating in the Ocean Art Contest! Check out the CELCs' winning art work listed on this website.

To view or download a high resolution version of each image, please double click on the image thumbnail.  To read the narrative prepared by the contestant for their image, double click on the contestant's name located below the thumbnail of the image.

Check back soon for the announcement of the Ocean Art Contest National Winners!

Ocean Art Contest 2008 National Judges Bios (91.88 kB)

Coastal America Press Release on Ocean Art Contest and Ocean Today Kiosk (77.59 kB)

Coastal America Media Advisory on Ocean Art Contest and Ocean Today Kiosk (78.04 kB)