Celebrate World Oceans Day (8th June) with "Alderney’s Waves of Wonder" Art Contest 🌊
To inspire young people and support wildlife conservation, the Alderney Wildlife Trust is hosting a marine-themed art contest to showcase Alderney’s incredible marine life and seabirds. Your creativity can help raise funds to protect these precious habitats!
We invite young artists aged 6–15 to submit artwork highlighting Alderney’s marine life and seabirds in any form—whether drawing, painting, photography, felting, willow weaving, mixed media like collage or sculpture. Maximum size of physical artwork (not digital artwork): 297 mm x 420 mm (A3-sized)
📅 Contest Dates: 23rd May – 15th June 🎨 Theme: Alderney’s marine life—think green ormers, marine mammals, fish, crabs, corals like pink sea fan, eelgrass, seaweeds—and seabirds! 🏆 Prizes (For winners in two age groups 6–10 & 11–15):
First prize:
- £10 AWT voucher
- One kid's pizza from the Moorings
Second prize:
- £5 AWT voucher
- £5 Alderney Centre voucher
Third prize:
- Goody bag from Isla & me by the sea
- Terracotta painting kit
Why Enter?
✅ Support World Oceans Day (8th June) and help protect Alderney’s seas. ✅ Your artwork could be turned into cards, tea towels, or prints to raise funds for wildlife conservation! ✅ Open to children on Alderney or those with a connection to the island.
How to Submit:Please choose ONE of the following methods.🖌️ Offline: Drop off your artwork at the Alderney Wildlife Trust office and fill out the paper form at the office.💻 Online: Upload via the AWT website. Link: https://www.alderneywildlife.org/submit-marine-artwork-2025 Please ensure the image/video quality is high, fully capturing the beauty of your artwork and please keep your original—the AWT may need it for scanning!
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Judging Criteria: ✔️ Beauty – Eye-catching and engaging ✔️ Relevance – Features Alderney’s marine life or seabirds ✔️ Originality – Creative and unique (no tracing/AI-generated art!)
📝 The artwork, with given permission, will be used to raise funds for wildlife conservation, whether incorporated into an Alderney-shaped map, featured on Alderney-related products (such as a tea towel or card), or displayed as a standalone piece.
🌟 Get inspired, get creative, and submit your masterpiece by 15th June 2025.
For more information on marine species of Alderney, please click here.
Pink sea fan ©Paul Naylor www.marinephoto.co.uk
John MacPherson/2020VISION
© Jack Bush
©Mike Snelle
Edible Crab ©Linda Pitkin/2020VISION
Humpback whale (c) Richard Shucksmith/scotlandbigpicture.com
A sea slug in the group Aeolida, (C) Jon Moore, photo taken at Clonque
Common eelgrass ©Paul Naylor www.marinephoto.co.uk
Ballan wrasse by Linda Pitkin
FAQ
1. Who can enter the contest?
For children on Alderney or those who have a connection with the island (e.g. they have visited Alderney during their holiday, or they have a family member living on the island)
Age range: from 6 – 15 years old. The prizes will be for two different age groups: 6-10 years old and 11-15 years old.
2. Can I submit more than one artwork?
Yes, you can although we recommend you submit one artwork only.
3. Format of the artwork?
We welcome any artwork—whether it’s a drawing, painting, photograph, mixed media like collages or sculptures, digital media, felting, or willow weaving. Maximum size of physical artwork (not digital artwork): 297 mm x 420 mm (A3 size).
4. How to submit the artwork?
Please choose ONE of the following methods.
🖌️ Offline: Drop off your artwork at the Alderney Wildlife Trust office and fill out the paper form at the office. When submitting your painting/drawing, please include your name and age on the back of the artwork.
💻 Online: Upload via the AWT website. Link: https://www.alderneywildlife.org/submit-marine-artwork-2025 Please ensure the image/video quality is high, fully capturing the beauty of your artwork and please keep your original—the AWT may need it for scanning!
5. When is the deadline to submit the artwork?
We will be receiving artwork from 30th May to 15th June.
6. What are the prizes?
The prizes will be for two different age groups: 6-10 years old and 11-15 years old.
🏆 Prizes (For winners in two age groups 6–10 & 11–15):
First prize:
- £10 AWT voucher
- One kid's pizza from the Moorings
Second prize:
- £5 AWT voucher
- £5 Alderney Centre voucher
Third prize:
- Goody bag from Isla & me by the sea
- Terracotta painting kit
7. What are the judging criteria for the artwork?
- Beauty: the artwork looks beautiful, eye-catching and interesting.
- Relevance: the artwork must show marine life or seabirds that have been recorded in Alderney’s waters and coastal areas.
- Originality: the artwork shows creativity and unique perspectives of Alderney’s wildlife and habitats.
We do not accept tracing or AI-generated artwork in this contest.
8. Who are the judges?
Members of the Alderney Wildlife Trust and a representative from the Alderney Art Club.
9. Who should I contact if I have further questions?
You can pop into the Wildlife Information Centre to have a chat with Thanh Doan or contact headofoutreach@alderneywildlife.org
10. When will the results be announced?
The results will be announced on the website of the AWT by July.
11. Where can I find information of marine species of Alderney?
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Marine species of Alderney: https://www.alderneywildlife.org/wildlife-explorer/marine
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Rockpool spotter sheet (over 50 marine species that you may encounter while rockpooling on Alderney): /sites/default/files/2025-06/Rockpool%20Spotter%20Sheet%20250603_0.pdf
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Video on Spiny Spider Crab in Cat's Bay: https://youtu.be/7wZevtA6WxU?si=w7hWitqeBNKxvljY
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Video on Puffins' behaviours on Burhou: https://youtu.be/u6zN4r1Fyzg?si=KH6sRvVXNA8LtHcV
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Bottlenose dolphins: https://youtu.be/loAm5JhzyVE?si=CbUb9TwZadiRzHNM
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Bottlenose dolphins (drone footage): https://youtu.be/GnsN2e0RNmc?si=zt-iWeyzCh1iR4-V