Art Competition

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district.

The competition is open to all high school aged students, including home-schooled, living in the 2nd Congressional District. To verify your Congressional District, go to www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the upper right corner.

We are no longer accepting submissions for the 2014 Congressional Art Competition. Winners of the 2014 competition attended the Congressional Reception in Tucson on Saturday, April 26. All other entries must be picked up from the Tucson or Sierra Vista offices no later than May 5th. We are not responsible for unclaimed art after that date.

The over-all winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nation-wide.

The winning student artist from Congressman Barber’s district will receive two airline tickets so the student and an adult family member or legal guardian can fly to Washington for the opening of the exhibition this spring.

Above: the winning submission for the 2014 Art Competition

Above: Congressman Barber presents 2014 Congressional Art Competition winner Jenna Hurst with a certificate of recognition

Complete details are available here: Entry info and submission forms are on the lower section of the page.

Art works entered in the contest can be no larger than 28 inches by 28 inches by 4 inches and weigh no more than 15 pounds, including the frame. 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 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.

If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, please submit the following form. 

* indicates information that you need to provide.