Congressman Joe Kennedy

Representing the 4th District of Massachusetts
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Congressional Art Competition

About the Congressional Art Competition:

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

Congressional Art

Congressman Kennedy's Office and the Congressional Art Competition:

If you are a student in the 4th District, you can submit your original piece for consideration in the Congressional Art Competition through Congressman Kennedy's Office. The Congressman has assembled an independent panel of artists and artistic professionals from across the district who will select the winning submissions.

Out of all the submissions, one winner will be chosen in each of the seven categories:

  • Paintings: oils, watercolors, acrylics, 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, watercolor, etc.
  • Computer-generated art
  • Photography

Once the finalist has been selected in each cateogry, the panel will select a "Best in Show." That piece will be sent down to Washington, DC to hang in the U.S.Capitol for the next year. The remaining finalists will have their artwork displayed in Congressman Kennedy's district office.

How to apply:

Any 4th District student interested in applying must fill out the release and application form. You can download the form here!

Once you complete the release form, please print it out and mail it to the following address, along with your piece of art.

Office of Congressman Joe Kennedy
29 Crafts St.
Suite 375
Newton, MA

Students may reach out to our Newton office with any questions or concerns: (617) 332-3333.

PLEASE NOTE: The final deadline for submissions through Congressman Kennedy's Office is May 2, 2014. Artwork received after that date will not be considered for the competition.

Congressional Art in the Capitol

Important competition guidelines:

  • Artwork must be two dimensional, no larger than 28" x 28" x 4” (including matting or framing)
  • Artwork must weigh less than 15 lbs.
  • Artwork must be original in concept, design and execution – and must comply with U.S. Copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo, painting, graphic, advertisement, or any work produced by another person will NOT be accepted.
  • Artwork must be submitted in the original medium. (no scanned reproductions accepted)
  • Artwork must be within the following categories
    • Paintings: oils, watercolors, acrylics, 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, watercolor, etc.
    • Computer-generated art
    • Photography
  • Artwork must have student’s correct identification on back of artwork.
  • If artwork is chosen by the panel, the piece must be framed by the student or school. This is per instructions of the Congressional Institute
  • The Competition is open to public and private High School students only.  Exceptions may be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus.  
  • Each student must verify that his or her residence is in the Fourth Congressional District.
  • You can read the full list of rules and guidelines here.