When my son was in elementary school, he brought a copy of Space Case home. The book is a about a 12-year-old who is one of the first humans to live on the moon and finds himself having to solve a murder mystery during his space adventure. The book inspired a lot of conversations about what living in space would be like and this very idea is the mission for the International Space Art and Poetry Contest.
About the International Space Art and Poetry Contest
For the second year, Astronaut John Shoffner invites students and educators to submit a drawing, painting or written poetry showcasing “What Would It Look Like If We Lived in Space?”
Shoffner thought of the contest having remembered his vision as a 10-year-old when he wanted to be an astronaut. He painted a portrait of astronaut Ed White and wondered what it would look like if we lived in space. Now that he’s had a chance to fulfill his childhood dreams and live in space, he’s giving kids the opportunity to imagine the same thing through this contest.
Participants from around the globe are invited to display their curiosity in vivid color and language as they imagine what it will look like to live in space.
Who Can Enter the International Space Art and Poetry Contest
The contest that promotes STEAM (science, technology, engineering, ART, and math) is open to students ages 5-18 and educators in the United States and around the world. Entries will be categorized by age division (5-8, 9-13, 14-18, and a newly added educator category), as well as by genre (visual art and poetry).
How to Enter
The 2024 International Space Art and Poetry Contest is currently open for submissions and closes on April 5. One piece of art or poetry may be submitted per student through the contest submission page.
Poetry can be submitted in languages other than English. Digital pictures of paintings and drawings are accepted as entries however, photography, sculpture, and AI generated images are not.
Submissions will be scored by an esteemed panel of judges including:
- NASA Icon and Axiom Space Director of Human Space Flight Peggy Whitson, who holds more time in space than any American or woman in history
- STEAM advocate, contest visionary and Axiom Mission (Ax-2) Pilot John Shoffner
- Executive Director of Limitless Space Institute, Kaci Heins
- Visual Artist, poet and published author, Moniqe Lorden
Eight category representatives will receive special recognition from the International Space Station (ISS) in addition to receiving physical prints of their creation sent down from space, gift packages provided by Crayola Experience, and more.
All participants will receive a digital certificate of participation after the contest concludes.
The contest is hosted by The Perseid Foundation in collaboration with Crayola Experience, Limitless Space Institute, International Space Station National Lab and Axiom Space.
About Last Year’s International Space Art and Poetry Contest
The inaugural International Space Art and Poetry Contest received more than 930 entries from 26 countries including the U.S., Colombia, Ghana, Ireland, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the Philippines, and more. Surrounded by floating colorful artwork and written creations inside the Cupola, Shoffner announced the category representatives during the Ax-2 mission last May.
“Your creativity has inspired my perspective on space in ways I never imagined,” said Shoffner from the ISS. “Your big ideas, bright colors, and thoughtful words have served as a gentle reminder to hold onto that wide-eyed curiosity that often escapes us over time.”
No compensation was received for this post. All images courtesy of the International Space Art and Poetry Contest. Amazon affiliate links are included in this post.
