By encouraging youth to reflect on the beauty and spirit of California's
beaches and ocean, we hope to inspire a greater sense of stewardship for
these natural places. A population that cares about the coast is more likely
to work to conserve and protect it. A selection of Coastal Art & Poetry Contest winners and
honorable mentions will be on exhibit at
the following locations during 2008: Coyote Point Museum of
Environmental Education in San Mateo, May 6 through June 15, 2008.
Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center, Newport Beach, September 2
through September 30, 2008
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, San Pedro, October 21, 2008 through January 11, 2009
Winners will be selected in each of four grade-level categories (K-3rd,
4th-6th, 7th-9th, and 10th-12th)
in both art and poetry to receive a gift certificate for $100 to an art supply store (for winners in art,
courtesy of Blick Art Materials)
or book store (for winners in poetry).
Each sponsoring teacher will receive a gift certificate for $40 for educational materials.
Winners and honorable mentions will also receive tickets to the
Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach,
courtesy of the Aquarium.
COASTAL ART AND POETRY CONTEST
Students may have their work featured in California Coastal Commission materials and
webpages. Students may enter multiple pieces. Artwork will be returned only if a
self-addressed, stamped envelope is included with the entry. Winners and
honorable mentions may be retained by the Commission for up to one year for public exhibit.
For more information, or to request to have an entry form emailed, mailed, or faxed to you, contact the California Coastal Commission at
Teachers: Find free resources to help you teach about the coast and ocean.
If you depict specific species or habitats in your entry, they must be
California species and habitats. (Of course, you are welcome to be more abstract in your
work, and particular species need not be identifiable; but you are discouraged from submitting
obviously non-California images such as tropical fish, coconut palms, etc.) Below are some sites with coastal
California images. If you know of another website to add to this list,
please email us.
View winning artwork and poetry from previous contests (some of which will open in
a new window):
2008,
2007,
2006,
2005,
2004,
2003,
2002,
2001,
2000, and
1999.
WHO:
All California residents in kindergarten through 12th grades are invited to participate.
There are four categories for awards
in both art and poetry:
K-3rd, 4th-6th, 7th-9th,
and 10th-12th grade.
WHAT:
Entries must have a California coastal
or California marine theme. (For help with California species,
click here.) Poetry and artwork must be original. Art should be no larger than 11
inches by 17 inches. Acceptable art media are paint, pencil, markers, ink, crayon, chalk or
pastel (fixed), and collage. Three-dimensional pieces, computer printouts, or photocopies are
not eligible. All entries must include a completed contest Entry Form.
WHEN:
Entries must be postmarked by January 31, 2009.
HOW:
Review and complete the Guidelines and Entry Form and submit it
with your art or poetry to:
California Coastal Commission
45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105
800-COAST-4U or coast4u@coastal.ca.gov.
• Entry Form and Guidelines in English [in
MS Word] [in PDF]
• Entry Form and Guidelines in Spanish [in
MS Word] [in PDF]
(Poetry entries must be in English)
You can download the Contest Flyer as a PDF.