Calling all artists! Kids between the ages of 5 and 13 are invited to participate in an art contest sponsored by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) in partnership with Immersion Learning. The theme of the contest is “Mariners help save our seas.”  Submissions should focus on the marine environment and the work that mariners do to protect it.  Mariners are the men and women who work on ships, which carry over 90 percent of the world’s materials.

Each entry must be a two-dimensional, original piece of artwork done on white poster board with dimensions of 22 inches by 28 inches. Pale colors should not be used because they are too difficult to reprint. Please do not put product names that are copyrighted or trademarked in your artwork or it will be disqualified. The entrant’s full name, grade, school name, school address and teacher/facilitator’s name, phone number, and e-mail address must be written on an index card and securely affixed to the back of the artwork. 

Entries must be received by May 28, 2010, at the following address:

Katie Cubina, V.P. and Executive Producer
Immersion Learning
Sea Research Foundation, Inc.
55 Coogan Blvd.
Mystic, CT 06355

The entries of up to 12 NAMEPA finalists will be selected by early June 2010. Artwork will be featured on the Immersion Learning website. Original artwork will be on exhibition at Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration as part of the World Oceans Day celebration in June. The finalists will receive a signed photo of Dr. Robert Ballard and a letter of appreciation. The winning artist will receive a first-place prize package to include:

1. Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration Animal Adoption Kit - $250 level
2. 16-in. plush beluga whale with Mystic Aquarium logo
3. Signed book and photograph from Dr. Robert Ballard
4. Presentation of award to winner

The winning entry in this contest will be printed on a NAMEPA poster that will be distributed throughout the maritime world. Good luck, and get started!

If you have additional questions about the contest, please contact Katie Cubina.

Use of Winning Posters

NAMEPA and Immersion Learning, a division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc. (SRF), retain the right to use the winning posters, always making reference to the name of the holder, to project and promote the institution’s objectives in accordance with the Declaration in any way deemed appropriate in the future (exhibitions, projections, production of commemorative booklet or calendar, creation of CD, projection on Web site, etc.).  Participants in this poster competition explicitly accept this condition and provide NAMEPA and SRF the right to use their posters.