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. Participation in the contest can be found using the information below. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners will be recognized both in their district and at an annual recognition ceremony in Washington, DC. Winners will recieve two (2) complimentary round-trip plane tickets to Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. Painting media can include acrylic, oil, and water-color.

Read more about the winner of the 2016 Congressional Art Competition, Rene Chavez Lopez of Hillside High School (pictured above), here.

All entries must meet the following criteria:

• Be two-dimensional.
• Be no larger than 28 inches wide by 28 inches tall by 4 inches thick including frame (paid for at artist's expense)
• Not weigh more than 15 pounds.
• Art may be paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, collages, and computer art.
• Be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws.

• Must be a High School student.
• Student must reside in the First Congressional District of North Carolina.

Submission requirements:

1. Submit either a photograph (by mail) or a digital copy (by email) of original art work
2. One (1) paragraph statement on why you created your piece and what your piece means to you.
3. Student Information & Release Form

Please note:

• Please do not send electronic copies that are larger than 6 MB (megabytes).
• Please do not send in the original artwork.

Student must submit a photograph via mail to my Durham office or an e-mail at GKBArt@mail.house.gov.(Subject Line: NC01 Congressional Art Submission) with necessary paperwork and forms, and the statement about why you created this piece and what the piece means to you by the submission deadline.

Teachers and students interested in competing in the 2017 Congressional Art Competition should contact Christina Piard at (919) 908-0164 or christina.piard@mail.house.gov.