Art Contests for Kids

Above: 2021 first place winner in the 5th grade diivision. By Alfonzo Mitchell Right: 2021 Georgia first place winner in the 7th - 9th grade division. By Alexandra Huynh

The 25th Anniversary Fish Art Contest is now officially underway. Using art and writing, the Georgia Fish Art Contest (part of the international Wildlife Forever Fish Art Contest) can ignite children’s imagination and inspire them to discover more about fish and fishing. The program is free to enter and open to youth in kindergarten through grade 12 anywhere in the world.

To enter, participants select a fish species of their choice and create an original, hand-drawn illustration. Participants 4th grade and older will also submit a brief piece of creative writing or an essay pertaining to their chosen species to showcase what they have learned. Contestants can win prizes such as Bass Pro Shops gift cards, merchandise from sponsors, and international recognition.

Take note, there are also many additional specialty award categories for 2023, including the Guy Harvey Shark Award, the Invader Crusader Award and the Go Fish Georgia Award. These additional contest opportunities may have different species and/or entry requirements. For example, the Go Fish Georgia Award celebrates fish species commonly sought by Georgia anglers. More info about award categories and all requirement details found at FishArt.org.

All Georgia contestants must complete the Georgiaspecific entry form (WildlifeForever.org/home/fish-art/ fish-entry-forms/georgia-entry-forms/). Entries are due by Feb. 28, 2023, and can be submitted digitally or by mail to Marion Baker/Go Fish Education Center (1255 Perry Parkway, Perry, GA 31069). Teachers and students across the state are invited to celebrate wildlife through art by participating in the 33rd annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.

The goal of this competition for grades K-5 is to generate knowledge of and appreciation for Georgia’s biological diversity. The contest is sponsored by the Georgia DNR, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN), friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.

The 2022-2023 theme – Wildlife Tales: True or False? – highlights amazing facts about wildlife as well as commonly held myths. Some untruths are relatively harmless while others may cause unnecessary fear or prompt harmful behavior. Students are encouraged to brainstorm interesting things about wildlife they’ve heard or read about, and consider if they’re true or not. If unsure, research may be required.

As inspiration for their artwork, students can observe birds and other wildlife in their backyard or schoolyard. Even if neighborhood greenspace is scarce, there’s always a world of insects and plants that can be found nearby. City, county and state parks are great places to discover nature, too.

After creating artwork based on this year’s theme and according to contest rules, participants will enter their drawings and paintings at the local school level. Top schoollevel entries then proceed to the state contest at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. First-, second- and third-place winners will be chosen for four divisions: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth grade. The deadline for schools to submit digital photos of state-level entries is April 7, 2023.

For contest rules, awards, entry forms and other information, visit georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.

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