Marine Art Contest

2022 Contest Deadline: April 30th

The Massachusetts Marine Educators and Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary have jointly sponsored an annual Marine Art/Poster Contest for several decades with the theme of "Illustrating the Biodiversity of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary." Additional sponsors now include the New England Aquarium, Center for Coastal Studies, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Ocean Genome Project/Northeastern University, and Woods Hole Sea Grant.

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a marine protected area located between Cape Ann and Cape Cod at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay, is an ocean wilderness near an urban world filled with amazing marine life. A diversity of sea creatures reside in the sanctuary and the greater Gulf of Maine, ranging from tiny one-celled diatoms to enormous humpback whales.

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.

Information on how to submit artwork:

Questions regarding the contest?

Please contact Anne Smrcina at

Anne.smrcina1@gmail.com