The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature will hold its second annual Earth Day poetry competition with this year’s theme, Climate Change: Our Impact.

Santa Barbara County writers of all ages are invited to use poetry to interpret the effects of climate change and our role in a variety of ways, with separate judging categories for youth (ages 17 and younger) and adult writing submissions.

The competition is intended to honor Earth Day while highlighting the importance of standing up to protect the planet’s dwindling natural resources, and working against the threats of climate change. Deadline to submit work for consideration is 5 p.m. Monday, March 21.

Poetry entries will be judged by poets Sojourner Kincaid Rolle, former Santa Barbara poet laureate (2015-17) and Chryss Yost, former Santa Barbara poet laureate (2013-15).

Adult poetry entrants will have the chance to win first prize, $200; second prize, $100; and third prize, family membership to Wildling Museum. Youth poetry prizes are first prize, $100; second prize, $50; third prize, family membership to Wildling Museum.

The competition will culminate at the annual Santa Barbara Earth Day celebration hosted by the Community Environmental Council (CEC), Saturday, April 23 at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara.

The top three winning poems in both the adult and youth categories will be selected ahead of Earth Day with the chance for winners to read at the Santa Barbara Earth Day celebration. Top winners will also be featured on the Wildling Museum website in the spring.

Competitors must live in Santa Barbara County. No more than three works may be submitted per person. Complete poetry competition guidelines, prize details, and entry forms are available on the Wildling Museum’s website www.wildlingmuseum.org/news/2022-earth-day-poetry-competition.

Email info@wildlingmuseum.org or call 805-686-8315 with any questions.