“The Congressional Art Competition allows high schools students across the country the opportunity to share their creativity, while demonstrating the importance of arts education,” said Rep. Woolsey.  “I’m always impressed by the creativity of the students in California’s Sixth Congressional District.”

The first place winner of the California’s 6th Congressional District Art Competition will be announced Wednesday, April 12th at 4:00PM  at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (formerly the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts) in Santa Rosa.  Prizes will be awarded to finalists, and the winning artist will have her/his art sent to Washington D.C. to be displayed in the nation’s capitol.  Southwest Airlines will also award the grand prizewinner with three roundtrip tickets to Washington, DC to join U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey at the ribbon cutting ceremony on June 28, 2006.  All winners will receive a certificate from Rep. Lynn Woolsey.

This year’s competition, entitled “An Artistic Discovery,” marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the national contest.  Since the Congressional Art Caucus created the competition in 1982, hundreds of thousands of high school students have honored their community by participating.

The annual Congressional High School Art Competition is held across the country with winners chosen in every congressional district.  Each first place winner’s artwork will be on public display for one year in the U.S. Capitol.  Rep. Woolsey hosts the “Congressional High School Art Exhibit” for California 6th District in Sonoma County every other year - alternating with Marin County.