Are you a creative who loves to create art or poetry around the subject of space? If so, this is your chance to enter a contest to have your art showcased from the International Space Station. This contest is open for young artists/poets as well as educators. For the second year, Astronaut John Shoffner is hosting the International Space Art & Poetry Contest. The goal is to promote the ‘A’ in STEAM. See more information below.

Have you ever looked at the stars and wondered, “What would it look like if we lived in space?” For the second year, astronaut and contest visionary John Shoffner invites students and educators from across the world to submit a drawing, painting or written poetry showcasing what it would look like if we lived up there. (Axiom Space, 2024)

Participants from around the globe will have the chance to showcase vivid color and curiosity as they take us on a journey into space as they envision it. 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. 

Submissions for the 2024 International Space Art and Poetry Contest open are open now and close on April 5. Selected category representatives will receive prints of their creations sent down from space, gift packages provided by Crayola Experience, and more.

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).

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  

The contest is hosted by The Perseid Foundation in collaboration with Crayola Experience, Limitless Space Institute, International Space Station National Lab, and Axiom Space. 

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.”

Axiom Space is building for beyond, guided by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human, everywhere. The leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, Axiom Space operates end-to-end missions to the International Space Station today while developing its successor, Axiom Station – the world’s first commercial space station in low-Earth orbit, which will sustain human growth off the planet and bring untold benefits back home. 

Axiom Space collaborates with The Perseid Foundation and Limitless Space Institute to boost STEAM education for the next generation of space explorers. Through this collaboration, these education partners aim to inspire curiosity in STEAM related careers.