World Oceans Day 2025
“Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”|Open Call for Art
“Our Ocean, Our Life: Stories from Myanmar’s Coasts”
This World Oceans Day, Myanmar Ocean project and Goethe-Institut Myanmar invite young artists, writers and creatives across the country to reflect the deep and personal connections between people and the sea.
“Our Ocean, Our Life” is an open call for creative works that reflect the beauty and fragility of the ocean and the vital role it plays in the lives of Myanmar’s coastal communities. It is a space to share your worries, your hopes and your dreams - and to ask how we can care for the ocean that sustains us all.
“Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”
The United Nations theme for World Oceans Day 2025 is “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”. This theme invites us to reflect on the ocean’s majesty and the essential role it plays in sustaining life - from providing food and oxygen to supporting coastal communities and regulating the climate. It’s a call to protect what inspires and supports us all.
We are inviting you to submit work in any of the following mediums;
Participants are encouraged to explore topics such as:
Eligibility:
Open to young Myanmar artists (ages 13-20) including those currently living abroad. (M/F/D)
Deadline:
All submissions must be received by Tuesday 27th May 2025, 5 pm (Myanmar time).
Submission Format:
Please submit your work in one of the following formats, depending on your chosen medium:
1. Visual Art
Format: High-quality photo or scan (JPG or PNG)
Resolution: Minimum 150 DPI; file size should not exceed 10 MB
Title and Short Description (max 150 words): Explain your piece and how it relates to the theme
2. Writing
Email your submission to: hello@myanmarocean.org
Subject line: “World Oceans Day 2025 – [Your Name] – [Category]”
(Example: World Oceans Day 2025 – Aye Min Thu – Visual Art)
Please include:
A panel comprising representatives from Myanmar Ocean Project, the Cultural Program Team of Goethe-Institut Myanmar, and invited artists/experts will review submissions based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and clarity of message. Selected works will be showcased in the auditorium of Goethe-Institut Myanmar as part of a special World Oceans Day exhibition on June 8th.
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of artists, writers and representatives from Myanmar Ocean Project and Goethe-Institut Yangon. The panel will assess entries based on
From all eligible submissions, the panel will select:
Prizes & Recognition
This is not a competition but a celebration of creativity, care for the ocean and the voices of young people across Myanmar.
However, a selection of outstanding submissions will receive special recognition and opportunities to deepen their creative journey and ocean knowledge.
These will be awarded in the following categories:
Outstanding Submissions
Up to 4 winners will be selected - 2 from Visual Art and 2 from Writing, across two age groups (13-17 and 18-20).
Winners will receive:
All participants whose works are selected for the World Oceans Day 2025 exhibition will receive:
Selected entries will be displayed at Goethe’s auditorium.
Date: 8th June - 11th June
This World Oceans Day, Myanmar Ocean project and Goethe-Institut Myanmar invite young artists, writers and creatives across the country to reflect the deep and personal connections between people and the sea.
“Our Ocean, Our Life” is an open call for creative works that reflect the beauty and fragility of the ocean and the vital role it plays in the lives of Myanmar’s coastal communities. It is a space to share your worries, your hopes and your dreams - and to ask how we can care for the ocean that sustains us all.
“Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”
The United Nations theme for World Oceans Day 2025 is “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”. This theme invites us to reflect on the ocean’s majesty and the essential role it plays in sustaining life - from providing food and oxygen to supporting coastal communities and regulating the climate. It’s a call to protect what inspires and supports us all.
We are inviting you to submit work in any of the following mediums;
- Visual Art (paintings, drawings, digital illustrations)
- Writing (poetry, short stories)
Participants are encouraged to explore topics such as:
- The daily lives, struggles and resilience of coastal communities
- The changing ocean, and how it affects people
- Dreams for the future of our seas
- The importance of traditional fishing practices
- Ocean conservation and community involvement
Eligibility:
Open to young Myanmar artists (ages 13-20) including those currently living abroad. (M/F/D)
Deadline:
All submissions must be received by Tuesday 27th May 2025, 5 pm (Myanmar time).
Submission Format:
Please submit your work in one of the following formats, depending on your chosen medium:
1. Visual Art
Format: High-quality photo or scan (JPG or PNG)
Resolution: Minimum 150 DPI; file size should not exceed 10 MB
Title and Short Description (max 150 words): Explain your piece and how it relates to the theme
2. Writing
- Format: PDF or Word document (.pdf or .docx)
- Length:
- Poetry: up to 30 lines
- Short stories or reflections: max 800 words
- Language: Submissions can be in Myanmar, English or any languages used in Myanmar
- Title and Short Description (optional): A few sentences about your piece
Email your submission to: hello@myanmarocean.org
Subject line: “World Oceans Day 2025 – [Your Name] – [Category]”
(Example: World Oceans Day 2025 – Aye Min Thu – Visual Art)
Please include:
- Your full name
- Age
- Town/City and State/Region
- Title of your submission
- A short artist bio (2–3 sentences about yourself)
A panel comprising representatives from Myanmar Ocean Project, the Cultural Program Team of Goethe-Institut Myanmar, and invited artists/experts will review submissions based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and clarity of message. Selected works will be showcased in the auditorium of Goethe-Institut Myanmar as part of a special World Oceans Day exhibition on June 8th.
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of artists, writers and representatives from Myanmar Ocean Project and Goethe-Institut Yangon. The panel will assess entries based on
- Creativity and originality
- Relevance to the theme
- Clarity of message or story
- Emotional or cultural connection to the ocean and coastal communities.
From all eligible submissions, the panel will select:
- Up to 4 Outstanding Submissions ( 2 from Visual Art and 2 from Writing across two age groups, 13-17 and 18-20)
- A wider selection of works to be featured in the special World Oceans Day exhibition at Goethe’s auditorium for public viewing.
Prizes & Recognition
This is not a competition but a celebration of creativity, care for the ocean and the voices of young people across Myanmar.
However, a selection of outstanding submissions will receive special recognition and opportunities to deepen their creative journey and ocean knowledge.
These will be awarded in the following categories:
Outstanding Submissions
Up to 4 winners will be selected - 2 from Visual Art and 2 from Writing, across two age groups (13-17 and 18-20).
Winners will receive:
- A curated gift pack with art or reading supplies to support their learning
- A certificate of recognition from Myanmar Ocean Project and Goethe-Institut Yangon
- A feature on our social media platforms
- An invitation to participate in an online or in-person sharing session on the opening day of the exhibition on World Oceans Day
- A chance to collaborate on future projects with Myanmar Ocean Project to co-create social media campaign on ocean conservation
All participants whose works are selected for the World Oceans Day 2025 exhibition will receive:
- A certificate of achievement
- Their work showcased in the exhibition at Goethe-Institut Yangon with their name and artist statement and on digital platforms
Selected entries will be displayed at Goethe’s auditorium.
Date: 8th June - 11th June