2012 Art Competition

Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in the 5th Congressional District. The theme for our district’s Competition is Virginia’s Heritage.

For background information, the Congressional Art Competition 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.

Our Competition is open to all high school students in grades 9 – 12 who live in the 5th Congressional District. The overall winner of our district's Competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington, D.C. will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide. In addition, there will be a reception for all winners in Washington this summer.

The artwork entered in the contest must be framed, original, two-dimensional, no larger than 28 inches high by 28 inches wide by 4 inches deep (28” x 28” x 4”) and weigh less than 15 pounds, including the frame. The deadline for submitting artwork is Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

The following media will be accepted:

° Paintings - oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

° Drawings - pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers

° Collage

° Prints - lithographs, silkscreen, block prints

° Mixed Media – use of more than two media such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

° Computer-Generated Art

° Photography

To participate in the annual Congressional Art Competition, students must follow specific rules and guidelines, adhere to our district’s theme Virginia’s Heritage, and submit their framed artwork with the Student Information & Release Form by April 25, 2012. The 2012 Congressional Art Competition Rules and Guidelines and 2012 Student Information and Release Form are below for downloading. The entries will be judged by artists, art professors, and art enthusiasts who live in the 5th district and comprise the Art Advisory Committee. The Honorary Co-Chairs of the Art Advisory Committee are The Honorable and Mrs. Charles R. Hawkins.

If you have any questions, please contact Denise Van Valkenburg in our Danville district office at (434)791-2596 or by email at denise.vanvalkenburg@mail.house.gov. Thank you for your interest and good luck.

Downloads

• 2012 Congressional Art Competition Rules and Guidelines

• 2012 Congressional Art Competition Student Information Form

Emily Ewing Hays of Charlottesville won First Place in our 2011 Congressional Art Competition for her artwork entitled “Diversity”. See her winning art and other entries from our 2011 Competition in the slide show below.