Art Competition
Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since its beginning in 1982, the Congressional Arts Competition has provided 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.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all students in grades 9-12 who live in Minnesota’s First Congressional District or attend high school in the district. You can confirm your address is in the First Congressional District by going to http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/. 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.
Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 28 inches by 28 inches (including the frame) and may be up to 4 inches in depth. The art work 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.
2016 Congressional Art Competition
To enter into this year’s Congressional Art Competition, please submit a framed work of art along with the Student Information and Release Form to the Rochester or Mankato district office by April 15, 2016.
Rochester office: 1202 1/2 7th Street Northwest, Suite 211, Rochester, MN 55901
Mankato office: 527 1/2 South Front Street, Mankato, MN 56001
Professional artists will determine the winner of the competition, which will be announced on May 6, 2016. The winning student will be invited to the exhibition opening and reception in Washington, D.C. and receive two round-trip tickets by a private airline. The exhibit will be on display at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. for one year. Runners-up will have the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the district offices of Congressman Walz for one year as well.
For rules and regulations, please click on the PDF below:
For the student release form, please click on the PDF below:
If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition - including this year's deadlines - please contact Ann Spicer in the Rochester office at 507-388-2149 or ann.spicer@mail.house.gov.