Congressional Art Competition

Participate in Artistic Discovery –
the Congressional Art Competition!

Each spring, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor the Artistic Discovery Contest, a nationwide high school arts competition. Artistic Discovery is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation – especially in District One.

Artistic Discovery is open to all high school students in the district. The winner from District One will have their submission displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year, alongside winners from other districts across the country. They will also be invited to Washington for a ceremony recognizing their achievement and provided with three free roundtrip airline tickets for their trip.

Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 30 inches by 30 inches (including the frame), and up to 4 inches in depth. The artwork may be

  • Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
  • Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
  • Collage
  • Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
  • Mixed Media
  • Computer Generated Art
  • Photography

All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution.

The Artistic Discovery contest began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition.

To submit a piece of artwork for the competition, a student or teacher must e-mail, fax or mail the Student Release Form linked here to my Washington, D.C. office care of Artistic Discovery. You must also include a digital photograph of your submission with the e-mail, fax or mail.

Submissions must meet the official guidelines included below.

This year’s deadline for submissions has passed. If you would like more information on the competition, including next year’s deadlines, please contact my office.

General Guidelines for Submissions

  • The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions will be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus.

  • Official resources are to be used only to the extent authorized by the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

In order to allow artwork to hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol, the following restrictions are enforced.

All artwork must be framed according to the appropriate framing guidelines, listed below.

Artwork must conform to the restrictions:

        • Artwork must be two-dimensional
        • Each piece can be no largerthan 30”x30”x4” (30 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 4 inches deep) including the frame. Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 lbs.
        • Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry which has been reproduced from an existing photo (not the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted.
  • Artwork must arrive in Washington by June 4, 2009 for inclusion in display.
    • Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to students earlier. Students, therefore, should submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.
  • Artwork categories are as follows:
    • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
    • Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers.
    • Collage: must be two dimensional
    • Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
    • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, etc.
    • Computer generated art
    • Photograph
  • A TYPED copy of the Student Release form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.

The final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the 2009 Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol.  Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.

Framing Guidelines

  • Framing guidelines apply only to the ONE winning artist/artwork that will be sent to Washington, DC.
  • All artwork must be framed. Frames should be kept as simple and sturdy as possible. Metal frames are recommended. No “snap on” frames with glass are to be used.
  • All artwork must be protected by Plexiglas or glass. Plexiglas is preferred. If glass is used, cover the entire surface completely with masking tape prior to shipping. 
  • All works, including frame¸ should be no larger than 30 inches high, 30 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, and 15lbs in weight. This includes the outside dimensions of the frame. Please double check size before sending the entry to Washington, DC. Due to wide participation of Member offices, framed work larger than the specified dimensions will be turned away. 
  • Matting can enhance or detract from a work of art and should be carefully prepared.
  • Use sturdy picture hangers on the back of the frame. Two sturdy eye hooks should be attached at the right and the left sides of the back of the work for hanging in order to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly. Do not put wire between the hooks for hanging, these will be added when the artwork is hung in the Capitol.
  • Do not attach labels, ribbon, etc. to the front of the piece or underneath the glass or Plexiglas.
  • If the artwork is abstract in design, please indicate on the backside which side is “up” with arrows.
  • As directed by the House Oversight and Standards of Official Conduct Committees, each district winner is responsible for framing his or her own entry. Any hardship cases should be assisted at the district level; works can no longer be framed by the Architect of the Capitol.
  • A typed copy of the Student Information & Release Form must be securely attached to the back of the artwork. Please retain a copy for your office.
 
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