Welcome to the Fish Art Contest, we’re so excited you’re here!

Please begin by diving into our Rules and Guidelines, which are standardized across all Bird Art and Fish Art Contests.

Psst! If you are in the United States (U.S.), you may also have additional guidelines set by a State Host. Use the Form Finder take a peek at your submission form. This form is tailored to your unique geographic location and will share any state-specific guidelines (if applicable).

• Students create and submit one entry (e.g., drawing, painting, collage) by the annual deadline for the Fish Art Contest: February 28 (Winners Announced Late Spring)

• All AOC contests, including the Bird Art Contest and Fish Art Contest, are FREE to enter and open worldwide to all K – 12 students (ages 5 – 18) across five grade divisions:

  • Kindergarten (Age 5 – 6)

  • 1st – 3rd Grade (Ages 6 – 9)

  • 4th – 6th Grade (Ages 9 – 12)

  • 7th – 9th Grade (Ages 12 – 15)

  • 10th – 12th Grade (Ages 15 – 18)

• For U.S. students in the 4th – 12th Grade Divisions, each entry must include both an original artwork and a creative writing piece. For international students and for U.S. students in K – 3rd Grade Divisions, creative writing is optional and NOT required.

• All entries must be submitted through the online submission form, which is updated annually on the webpage for each contest: Bird Art Contest and Fish Art Contest.

• Students must follow all contest guidelines. This includes Wildlife Forever’s Rules & Guidelines and, if applicable, specific guidelines for your state or region.

• Before beginning your artwork, please review the online submission form for the most complete and up-to-date details. For example, some U.S. states host the Bird Art and/or Fish Art Contest with state-specific rules, such as eligible species lists, artwork size/orientation guidelines, or mailing requirements.

• Previous entries to the Art of Conservation Bird Art or Fish Art Contests are NOT eligible for re-submission in future contest years; students must submit a new original entry.

• Students may enter art submitted to a contest or organization external to Art of Conservation, if permissible by the other contest’s rules. Example: A student submitting an original drawing of a wood duck to the Bird Art Contest may submit that same drawing to the Federal Duck Stamp Contest, and vice versa.

Art should feature any fish species of choice (with exceptions, see below). Some species are eligible for specialty awards.

• Artwork must feature a fish species (Fish Art Contest) or bird species (Bird Art Contest) in a natural habitat.

• Specific fish or bird species may not qualify in your specific state, territory, or region. For example, some states do NOT allow goldfish, guppies, bettas, and koi fish. Please consult the online submission form, which is updated annually and individualized to your unique geography, for species limitations if applicable.

• Depending on the species depicted, students may be eligible for Specialty Awards — including multiple awards per individual artwork. Example: In the 2025 Fish Art Contest, Jamila Shin’s multi-award-winning artwork (right) featured both a native species (lake sturgeon) and an invasive species (round goby) of the Great Lakes. They won 1st place in New Jersey in their grade division, in addition to two specialty awards: the Great Lakes Award and the Invader Crusader Award.

ART MEDIUMS

• Artwork NOT accepted includes AI-generated/modified content or computer-edited pieces. 3D art (e.g., sculptures) and digital art will be accepted only in select contests, states, and regions. Please consult your submission form for updated details.

• Accepted art mediums include but are not limited to: colored pencil, crayon, paint, marker, pastel, chalk, and collage, with spray fixative highly recommended for pastel or chalk pieces to prevent smudging.

• NEW! Digital art, which we define as original art that utilizes creative design technologies (e.g., Procreate, Adobe Fresco), is a newly accepted medium for international students and select U.S. states.

  • Since digital art is not accepted in all geographies, students should confirm the eligibility of digital art on the online submission form before beginning their piece.

  • To verify authenticity, digital artists should also document their progress and be prepared to provide the following verification if requested:

    • 3 Progress Photos OR 1 Timelapse Video: A minimum of three (3) chronologically ordered screenshots/photos OR one (1) timelapse video depicting the artwork at various stages of original creation (e.g., rough sketch, line art, base colors, final rendering). The photo(s) or video(s) should depict the artist’s digital art workspace, such as the creative software (e.g., Procreate, Adobe Fresco), digital tools (e.g., stylus, tablet), active project layers, history panels, and brush settings.

ORIGINAL WORK

• Artwork must be free of any writing, names, or signatures on the front unless it relates to the artwork (i.e. the name of a boat). Signatures may be written on the back only.

• Artwork must be the student's own, original creation. Copying or closely replicating another's work, including photos or artworks, is not allowed and will result in disqualification. Wildlife Forever and state hosts reserve the right to request the physical artwork to validate authenticity and originality. Parents, guardians, and educators, please ensure your student’s artwork is their own.

• AI-generated artwork is not allowed and is subject to immediate disqualification. AI should not be used to create artwork, not should it be used to modify or enhance artwork after it is created. If AI use is confirmed, the artwork will be disqualified.

• Plagiarism Warning: Any artwork that appears to substantially replicate existing artwork or photography will be disqualified. Using the same medium, pose, lighting, and composition as another artist's image is considered plagiarism, even if redrawn by hand.

• Artwork must be free of any writing, names, or signatures on the front unless it relates to the artwork (i.e. the name of a boat). Signatures may be written on the back only.

• Using photo references is encouraged — but your final piece must be recognizably your own.

• Please see the Rules and Guidelines for additional details, including real-world examples and best practices!

• Creative writing is not required for international students or students in the following Grade Divisions: K, 1st – 3rd.

• Length: No more than one side of one page, typed preferred, with the contestants name, grade, and state on the back.

• Include the student's name, grade, and home state/territory on either the front or back.

• Writing may take many forms, such as a story, poem, comic, journal entry, interview, or magazine article.

• Writing should reflect the student's knowledge, connection, or understanding of the selected bird or fish species.

• Creative writing may include illustrations or decorative elements, but the words must be the main focus.

• Use the Form Finder to locate the correct entry form for your state or region.

• Each area may have specific rules and submission requirements, which you can also find in the Form Finder.

• All entries must be submitted via the online submission form by the contest deadline, regardless of whether entries are mailed or uploaded online.

• The online submission form must include:

  • An email and mailing address for the artist or supervising adult.

  • Signatures from both the artist and supervising adult.

• If submitting 2D artwork online, please scan the artwork (not photograph) for the best quality. Crop the image so that the artwork fills the frame (no borders)

Mailing instructions will be provided in your online form submission, if applicable to your specific geography(-ies). Only select geographies accept mailed artwork, with some U.S. states making this a requirement of eligibility and others not accepting mailed art.

INTERNATIONAL PARTICIAPNTS:

• Please do not mail international entries. All international entries must be submitted online.

U.S. PARTICIPANTS WITHOUT A STATE HOST:

• Wildlife Forever will be the recipient of mailed entries, if/as applicable.

• Wildlife Forever does NOT accept mailed entries for individual students (online submissions only).

• Only group entries of 12 or more, such as an educator submitting on behalf of 12 or more students, are allowed to be mailed in addition to the required online submission form required for all participants.

U.S. PARTICIPANTS WITH A STATE HOST:

• State hosts may require mail-in entries, which if applicable, are listed on your submission form.

• Please do NOT mail entries to Wildlife Forever for state-hosted contests.

• Mail entries to the appropriate address on the state host's form.

MAILING TIPS:

• Please limit the amount of packaging when mailing your artwork.

• It is recommended to use a flat cardboard box or a thick, cardboard envelope. Your artwork will be safe and mailing will be cheaper. We encourage you to avoid using boxes and plastic fillers.

• Do not ship artwork in a frame or mat, especially glass. It breaks.

Creative Writing is not required for any international participant.

Please only submit digital copies or files. No physical, mailed-in art will be accepted.

Wildlife Forever reserves the right to request proof of art.

For each state and country, winners will be selected in five age categories: Kindergarten (ages 5-6), 1st to 3rd grade (ages 6-8), 4th to 6th grade (ages 9-11), 7th to 9th grade (ages 12-14), and 10th to 12th grade (ages 15-18). In each category, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be chosen.

All 1st place winners from each state's age category will advance to compete in the United States National Judging.

Thanks to generous partners and sponsors, the contest bestows many different awards that reflect your vibrant talents and the diverse wildlife your art helps protect! An individual student may be honored with multiple awards across multiple categories. Requesting consideration for one award does not inhibit consideration for another.

CERTIFICATE: Each new contest year, students may download a signed certificate from the Bird Art Contest and Fish Art Contest webpages.

ANNUAL AWARDS: A panel of judges comprised of artists, scientists, and educators evaluates artwork at state, national, and international levels for all grade divisions:

• Best in Show (one award)

• Art of Conservation Award (one award)

• International Fish Art Award (1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements in each grade division)

• U.S. National Fish Art Award (1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements in each grade division)

• U.S. State Fish Art Award (1st, 2nd, and 3rd placements in each grade division)

SPECIALITY AWARDS:

Student artwork is further celebrated with Specialty Awards that recognize outstanding art in a dedicated field or focus of conservation (e.g., sharks).

EDUCATOR AWARD: Grownups can receive recognition too! Inspired by a critical force for youth conservation education and the Texas Fish Art Contest, the Richard M. Hart Educator of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding educator each year.

Please contact our Art of Conservation Program Manager at info! info@wildlifeforever.org or mnix@wildlifeforever.org with any questions or concerns.

Best of luck!