FWC to host Florida State Fish Art Contest; entry deadline: Feb. 28, 2024
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
The annual Fish Art Contest is now open! Students in kindergarten through12th grade can create an original piece of artwork and compete in this free contest for a chance to win state and national honors and prizes.
In partnership with Wildlife Forever, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), on Sept. 13, 2023, announced its second annual Florida Native Fish Award! This State Specialty Award is an additional award to the national Fish Art Contest, that participating students will qualify for by submitting a Florida native species from the specified list below. The goal of the Florida Native Fish Award is to celebrate fish species native to Florida’s inland and marine waters.
“The Florida Native Fish Award is an amazing opportunity to introduce students to some of Florida’s most iconic native fish species in a fun and creative way,” said FWC Commissioner Sonya Rood. “This award helps connect Florida’s students to the fish species that help make Florida the Fishing Capital of the World, which is critical in inspiring the next generation of fisheries resource stewards.”
One 1st place winner and one runner up will be selected for each grade bracket:
Kindergarten through 3rd grade
4th through 6th grade
7th through 9th grade
10th through 12th grade
One award for illustrating the best freshwater fish species
One award for the best saltwater fish species
Digital artwork will not be accepted this year; all submitted pieces must be created with a traditional media. All 1st-place winners will advance to the National Competition to be judged for top prizes, such as Best of Show. The deadline to enter is Feb. 28, 2024, so start designing!
To enter, students from Florida should submit their entry at Wildlife Forever – Florida Art at https://www.wildlifeforever.org/home/fish-art/fish-entry-forms/florida-entry-forms/ that consists of the following:
An original piece of physical 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
A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species (required for grades 4-12).
A Florida State-Fish Art Contest entry form.
Note: Digital artwork will not be accepted this year, all submitted pieces must be created with a traditional media.
Florida Prizes
First-place winners in the 10th-12th 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: https://thefloridanomad.com/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=campaign.
The two first-place winners from each grade bracket, from each category will have their artwork displayed in the FWC’s freshwater or saltwater regulations guide.
All first-place winners will have their artwork displayed at FWC headquarters,located in the Farris Bryant Building, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, Florida; phone (850) 488-4676.