Speak 4 Planet Initiative | Own Your Voice Academy

Speak 4 Planet Initiative: Art to Ocean Competition

Harness the power of art to amplify ocean voices, drive sustainability, and inspire action

With oceans under siege from pollution and climate change, young artists take on the challenge of turning these crises into powerful art that inspires change.

The Speak 4 Planet Initiative is a global youth-focused environmental platform that empowers young people to drive environmental solutions through creativity, advocacy, and innovation. Through this initiative, we are launching our first Art for the Ocean Competition, aimed at engaging youth in ocean conservation through creative expression.

This unique platform invites young artists and designers to raise awareness about the urgent threats facing our oceans, including plastic pollution, climate change, and ecosystem degradation.

The competition goes beyond art—it explores the intersections of sports, health, and environmental awareness, fostering innovative thinking, experiential learning, and advocacy for sustainable action. Participants will use their creativity to inspire change and educate communities for a healthier planet.

Theme:

“Our Oceans, Our Future” – Highlight the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems while reflecting on our deep connection to the ocean.

Who can Participate:

Youth aged 15–25 from around the world are invited to participate in the Art for the Ocean Competition.

Enter the division based on your age at the time of entry:

Junior Division: Age 15-19
Senior Division: Age 20-25

Participants submit their work individually, though small teams of 3-4 members are allowed for the Digital Art and Short Film category.

Submissions are accepted in:

Visual Art: Handcrafted
Digital Art
Photography
Short Film: Max. 5 minutes

CONTEST DEADLINE: October 31st, 2025

Why Participate?

Be a Pioneer - Join Own Your Voice Academy's first competition and become one of the trailblazers shaping a new global youth movement for the ocean
Gain Knowledge - Explore marine conservation, sustainability, and environmental challenges while translating them into impactful art.
Showcase Your Talent - Through online art exhibitions and social media campaigns, let your creative vision shine. At Own Your Voice Academy, we amplify diverse youth voices to advance dialogue and participation in environmental conservation and advocacy.
Build Your Portfolio with meaningful projects that highlight both your artistic skills and commitment to ocean conservation. Add to your CV/Resume with a participation certificate.
Inspire Change - Use your creativity to raise awareness, spark conversations, and motivate communities to protect our oceans

How to Enter

Participating in the Art for the Ocean Competition is easy! Follow these steps to submit your artwork and join a global community of young environmental artists.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

The competition is open to youths from around the world aged 15-25.

Choose your division based on your age:

Junior Division: Age 15-19
Senior Division: Age 20-25

You may submit individually (all categories) or in small teams of 3-4 (Digital Art & Short Film Only)

Ensure you meet the age requirements and agree to the competition rules before starting your submission.

Step 2: Select Your Category

Select the medium that best expresses your vision:

Visual Art (handcrafted): Paintings, drawings, or mixed media
Digital Art: Original digital illustrations or designs
Photography: Creative photographs that reflect the ocean theme
Short Film (2-5 minutes): Films can be narrative, documentary, experimental, or animated, addressing any one of these themes:
- Ocean conservation
- Impact of plastic pollution or climate change
- Connections between the ocean, sports, or human health

Step 3: Create your Artwork

This is your chance to let your creativity shine and become a voice for the ocean! Your artwork should be original and reflect your unique perspective on our theme: Our Ocean, Our Future.

Think about your unique connection to the ocean.

What story does it inspire in you? How does it affect your life, your community, or the world around you? Consider the beauty, challenges, and hope that the ocean represents, and use your chosen category to bring that story to life.

Your goal is to create a piece that moves your audience, sparks curiosity, and inspires action to protect and cherish our oceans.

Step 4: Write Your Reflection

Prepare a short written reflection that explains:

The message behind your work
How it connects to the competition theme
Why ocean protection matters to you

Step 5: Submit Your Artwork

Participants may submit only 1 art piece per category.

Check Your Files: Ensure your artwork and reflection are complete, high-quality, and meet the competition requirements.

Submission Format: Follow the specified file formats, size limits, and naming conventions as outlined in the submission guidelines.

Competition Rules, Requirements and Guidelines

To ensure a fair, inspiring, and smooth competition, all participants are expected to follow these rules and guidelines carefully.

Submission Rules

One Entry per Category: Each participant may submit only one artwork per category.
Originality: All artwork must be entirely original and created by the participant(s).
Copyright Compliance: Submissions must not infringe on copyrighted materials or intellectual property of others.
Appropriateness: Work should be suitable for a general audience and respectful of all cultures and communities.
Deadline Compliance: Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.

Artwork Requirements

All submissions must reflect the competition theme: “Our Ocean, Our Future.” Your work should communicate a clear message about the importance of ocean conservation, the threats it faces, and the hope for a sustainable future.

Visual Art (Handcrafted):

Accepted Forms: Paintings, drawings, collages, mixed media, and sculptures.

Materials: Any traditional medium (e.g., acrylics, oils, watercolor, ink, charcoal, recycled materials, etc.).
Presentation:
- 2D works (paintings/drawings/collages) should be scanned or photographed in high resolution.
- 3D works (mixed media) should be submitted as 3–5 high-quality photos from different angles.
Size: Maximum recommended size is 100 cm x 100 cm (for physical works). Larger pieces may be accepted but must be photographed for submission.

Digital Art:

Accepted Forms: Original digital illustrations, vector art, and graphic designs.
Software/Tools: Any digital drawing or design software is allowed (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate). AI-generated art is not accepted.
Resolution: Minimum 300 dpi; size at least 2000 pixels on the shortest side.
File Format: JPEG or PNG.

Photography:

Accepted Forms: Creative photographs that capture the theme through landscapes, wildlife, human interaction, or symbolic storytelling.
Technical Requirements:
- High-resolution image (at least 1920 x 1080 pixels)
- No watermarks, borders, or heavy filters that distort the original image
Editing: Minor color correction or cropping is allowed, but excessive digital manipulation is not permitted.
Submission: Each participant may submit only one photo.

Short Films:

Length: 2–5 minutes
Accepted Formats: Narrative, documentary, experimental, or animation
Theme Connection: Films must explore at least one of these:
- Ocean conservation
- Impact of plastic pollution or Climate change
- Interconnection between the ocean, sports, or human health
Technical Requirements:
- Video format: MP4 or MOV
- Resolution: Minimum 1080p (Full HD)
- Language: Any language is allowed, but films must include English subtitles if not in English
Submission:
- Upload your film to a secure platform such as Google Drive, Dropbox, YouTube (Unlisted), or Vimeo (Unlisted).
- Submit the shareable link in your entry form.

Each submission must include a short written reflection (150–300 words) that:

Explains the inspiration behind the piece
Describes how it connects to the theme Our Ocean, Our Future
Shares the message or feeling you want the audience to take away

Technical Guidelines

File Formats & Sizes: Follow the instructions on the submission page.
Quality: Ensure images, videos, or digital files are clear, high-resolution, and viewable.
File Naming: Use the prescribed format (e.g., FirstName_LastName_Category).
Submission Method: Upload via the official submission portal only

Contest Judging

2025 Contest winners will be announced in late November 2025

A panel of artists, ocean experts, and educators will review all submissions. Judges will be announced soon, and winners will be selected based on creativity, technique, and impact.

Judges will evaluate submissions based on:

Relevance to the Theme: How effectively the artwork reflects the annual theme of the contest.

Creativity & Originality: The uniqueness of the artistic voice, imagination, and concept.

Craftsmanship & Technique: Quality, skill, and attention to detail in the chosen medium, as well as accuracy in conveying the intended message or issue.

All entries will be evaluated fairly and transparently, ensuring that every participant receives equal consideration. Winners will be celebrated for their artistic talent and their contribution to raising awareness about ocean conservation.