Each year in the spring, my office participates in the Congressional Art Competition, "An Artistic Discovery." This nationwide competition provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the talent of high school students and acknowledge our nation's gifted young adults. Since the U.S. House of Representatives created the competition in 1982, hundreds of thousands of talented high school students have served as artistic ambassadors of their communities.

The contest is open to public, private and home-schooled high school students residing and/or attending schools located in the 26th Congressional District. The Greater Denton Arts Council (GDAC) co-sponsors the annual juried event. Student artists will have their works judged by a professional art educator chosen by the GDAC.

First prize in the competition is the display of the winning student's artwork for an entire year in the House corridor to the U.S. Capitol.  The exhibit space is traveled daily by Members of Congress, their staff, and thousands of visitors who are able to view the artwork from Congressional districts throughout the country - each artwork is highlighted with the name of the work and student artist.

The 26th District winner and a guest will be invited to Washington, D.C. in the summer to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony honoring the winning artists and the opening of the exhibition. In addition, the competition’s second and third place winners will have the opportunity to have their work displayed publicly in my Lewisville and Fort Worth offices for the upcoming year.  

If you have any questions regarding the Congressional High School Art Contest or a student’s eligibility to participate, please contact Joan Self in my Lewisville district office at (972) 434-9700 or by email.