Congressional Art Competition

Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the House of Representatives.  The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in our youth.  The winning submissions from each congressional district across the country are displayed for one year in the US Capitol.

Students interested in participating in the competition can submit original artwork in one of seven different categories:

  • Collage
  • Computer-generated art
  • Drawings
  • Mixed Media
  • Paintings
  • Photography
  • Prints

The overall competition winner is awarded with "Best in Show" and his or her submission will be displayed in the Capitol with the winning submissions from across the country.  First, second, and third place awards, as well as honorable mentions, are also awarded for most of the categories, and competition winners have the option of having their submission displayed in one of Bill's district’s three offices for the year following the competition.

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 have questions on Bill’s next Congressional Art Competition, which will take place in the Spring of 2015, please contact Karen Wasielewski in the South Shore District Office at 508-746-9000.


CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS

**Please note, these may change in advance of the Spring 2015 competition**


General Guidelines
 

The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions may be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus.

Artwork must be two-dimensional.

Each piece can be no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” (28 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 4 inches deep), including the frame. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it will be required to be framed and must still adhere to the size guidelines.

Artwork cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.

Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:

  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
  • 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

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement) that was created by someone other than the student is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted.

Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).

Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.

Suitability Guidelines

As outlined in these guidelines, the final decision regarding the suitability of all artwork for the Congressional Art Competition exhibition in the Capitol will be made by a panel of qualified persons chaired by the Architect of the Capitol. While it is not the intent to censor any artwork, we do wish to avoid artwork that is potentially inappropriate for display in this highly travelled area leading to the Capitol.

Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. It is necessary that all artwork be reviewed by the panel chaired by the Architect of the Capitol and any portion not in consonance with the Commission’s policy will be omitted from the exhibit.

Student Information and Release Form

Each entrant must submit a Student Information and Release Form, which interested applicants can obtain by contacting Karen Wasielewski in the South Shore District Office at 508-746-9000.

A TYPED copy of the Student Information and Release Form, signed by the teacher, a parent or guardian, and the student, must be securely attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.  Please retain a copy for your records.

Drop Off Requirements for Artwork

One teacher from each participating high school should do the following:

  • Bundle all artwork together. Each piece should have an Art Entry Label taped to the back.
  • Include in the bundle, an Inventory of the artwork.
  • On the outside of the bundle, attach the Artwork Cover Sheet.               

FAQ’S

  • Each student may submit only one piece per competition
  • Only the Best in Show piece will be sent to the Capitol Building in D.C. and put on display for one year after the art show has ended
  • Every other piece submitted will be displayed at the Plymouth Center for the Arts and available for return at the end of the show
  • The Best in Show winner and one guest will be invited to attend a reception at the Capitol
  • All teachers, students, families and friends are invited to attend the reception at the Plymouth Center for the Arts
  • Artwork may be viewed at the Plymouth Center for the Arts anytime during the show’s run during regular business hours
  • Artwork can be dropped off or picked up after the show at any of our three offices:  2 Court Street, Plymouth, MA, 297 North Street, Suite 312, Hyannis, or 558 Pleasant Street, Suite 309, New Bedford, MA

 

2014 CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION WINNERS
     
BEST IN SHOW:  Isabelle Crawford, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Photography, “Branches”

PHOTOGRAPHY
First Place:  Courtney Howell, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, “Where Art Thou?”
Second Place:  Elizabeth Dourian, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, “Road to Lighthouse”
Third Place: Claire Heidenreich, Duxbury High School, “Break in the Night”
Honorable Mention:  Eliza Van Voorhis, Falmouth Academy, “Ladders on Long Wharf”
Honorable Mention: Kylie Hathaway, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, “I Stopped to Ponder”
Honorable Mention: Julia Guerin, Falmouth Academy, “Life in the Souks”
Honorable Mention: Natasha Garland, Falmouth Academy, “Recess”
Honorable Mention: Alistair Rizza, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, “I Could Use a Wish”

PAINTINGS
First Place: Cassidy Reves-Sohn, Falmouth Academy, “Self Portrait”
Second Place: Audrey Hukalowicz, Barnstable High School, “Reflections”
Third Place: Ari Barks, Mashpee High School, “Porcelain Doll”
Honorable Mention: Megan Goulart, Bishop Stang High School, “Ganesha”
Honorable Mention: Victoria Holding, Marshfield High School, “Om”
Honorable Mention: Kiara Vought, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, “Woman in Blue”
Honorable Mention: Emily Belcher, Plymouth South High School, “Canal Sunset”

DRAWINGS
First Place: Danielle Hill, Rockland High School, “Self Portrait”
Second Place: Taylor Bethanis, Marshfield High School, “Boot”
Third Place: Danielle Tom, Pembroke High School, “Einstein”
Honorable Mention: Lily Clancy, Marshfield High School, “The Younger Years”
Honorable Mention: John Nelson, Marshfield High School, “Self Portrait”
Honorable Mention: Rhys Sturdy, Marshfield High School, “Dana”
Honorable Mention: Charlotte O’Toole, Bishop Stang High School, “Boston”
Honorable Mention: Bridget Martin, Rockland High School, “Skeleton Still Life”
Honorable Mention: Greg Donovan, Silver Lake Regional High School, “Paper Bags”
Honorable Mention: Liz Sheldon, Plymouth North High School, “Don’t Cry”

COLLAGE
First Place: Nicole Hayes, Notre Dame Academy, “Self Portrait”
Second Place: Madeleine Tesauro, Notre Dame Academy, “Self Portrait”

MIXED MEDIA
First Place: Neva Callaghan, Falmouth High School, “Empire State of Mind”
Second Place: Erin O’Leary, Pembroke High School, “Snake with Balloon”
Third Place: Lyndsey Weeks, Bishop Stang High School, “Native Skull”

PRINTS
First Place: Cecelia King, Falmouth High School, “Snowman”
Second Place: Emma Helfrich, Falmouth High School, “Yellow Breasted Chat”
Third Place: Molly Walker, Falmouth High School, “Ranunculus”
Honorable Mention: Amanda Pang, Plymouth South High School, “Twisted”
Honorable Mention: Taylor Dimond, Falmouth High School, “Daffodil”
Honorable Mention: Maddie O’Neil, Falmouth High School, “Downy Woodpecker”

COMPUTER GENERATED
First Place: Amber Hoisington, Plymouth South High School, “Dia De Muertos”
Second Place: Travis Lovell, Plymouth South High School, “Self Portrait”
Third Place: Lauren Knight, Notre Dame Academy, “Seniors”
Honorable Mention: Kolbey Jumper, Plymouth South High School, “Reflections of Determination”
Honorable Mention: Emma Andrews, Plymouth South High School, “Blowing in the Wind”