The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is excited to announce the 25th Anniversary Fish Art Contest. The contest is in partnership with Wildlife Forever. Since 1997, the contest has grown into an internationally recognized youth conservation program. It draws thousands of entries each year from across the country.
The Florida State Fish Art Contest
The Florida State Fish Art contest is an annual celebration of youth talent in the arts. It’s also a way for educators and the FWC to connect students to the beauty and wonder of Florida’s wildlife. Students from across the state can submit visual art or creative writing to the contest for a chance to display their artwork in the FWC headquarters as well as the FWC’s freshwater or saltwater regulations guide.
To view the 2022 Florida Fish Art contest winners, click here.
The Entry deadline for the 2023 contest is Tuesday February 28th. It is open to students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Entry to the contest is free, and all artists are encouraged to apply.
Related: High Schoolers Can Apply for Grant from FWC for School Fishing Club
“Fish Art started as an idea to celebrate the state fish of Minnesota, the walleye. Today, students from all over the world participate to learn about fish, water resources and conservation. We continue to see lives changed where participation in the Fish Art contest serves as building blocks for lifelong stewardship of natural resources,” said Pat Conzemius, President and CEO of Wildlife Forever.
One first-place winner and one runner-up will be selected for each grade bracket (kindergarten through third grade, fourth through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade and tenth through twelfth grade). One for illustrating the best freshwater fish species and one for the best saltwater fish species. All first-place winners will advance to the National Competition to be judged for top prizes including Best in Show.
Competition guidelines
To enter, students from Florida should submit their entry at Wildlife Forever – Florida Art, consisting of the following:
An original piece of artwork featuring any fish including one or more of the following Florida native species from the same category:
- Category 1 – Freshwater: largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, channel catfish, Florida gar, chain pickerel, bowfin.
- Category 2 – Saltwater: snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, tarpon, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, hogfish, queen snapper, black grouper.
Or, a piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades 4-12).
Prizes include:
- First-place winners in the 10-12 grade bracket will receive 10 T-shirts printed with their artwork to give to family and friends from our partner The Florida Nomad and the shirts will also be available for sale on their website.
- The two first-place winners from each grade bracket, from each category will have their artwork displayed in FWC’s freshwater or saltwater regulations guide.
- All first-place winners will have their artwork displayed at the FWC headquarters in Tallahassee.
For more information, visit the Florida State Fish Art Contest webpage here.
