Congressional Art Competition


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2016 Congressional Art Competition Guidelines
“The Great Outdoors of TX-36”

ALL ENTRIES MUST FOLLOW “THE GREAT OUTDOORS OF TX-36” THEME
(No other entries will be accepted)

The competition is open to high school students who are permanent residents within the 36th Congressional District of Texas (Newton, Jasper, Tyler, Polk, Orange, Hardin, Liberty, and Chambers counties, as well as portions of southeastern Harris County). Depictions of “The Great Outdoors of TX-36” may include national, state, and municipal parks; wildlife; beaches; marshes; seashores, landscapes; and other scenes from across the District. Artwork must be two-dimensional and can be no larger than 28” x 28” x 4”, including the frame (framing is not required). Artwork may not weigh more than 15 pounds.  Accepted media includes: oil, acrylics, watercolor, pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers (it is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed); collage lithographs, silkscreen, block prints; mixed media, computer-generated art; and photography.  Artwork will be displayed with push pins (backing recommended).

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 (other than the student’s own), painting, graphic, advertisement, or any other work produced by another person 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).  The first place entry will be displayed for one year in a national exhibit, representing the people of the 36th District, in the Cannon Tunnel of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.   Additionally, the first place recipient must be able to participate in the national awards reception in Washington, D.C.  Round-trip airfare and accommodations for two to Washington will be provided.  The second and third place entries will be displayed for one year in Congressman Babin’s Washington and District offices, respectively. 

First, second and third place winning artwork must be available 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. Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, artwork depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature is not allowed. Full List of Rules for Students and Teachers

Intent to Apply Application Due Date: No later than Friday, April 1, 2016

Teachers or home school students should complete and submit an Exhibit Inventory Form (attached) to Ms. Beverly Ferguson, Regional Director of Community Relations, at Beverly.Ferguson@mail.house.gov or by Fax at (832) 780-0964. 

Submission Drop-Off Dates: April 18 thru 22, 2016

Artwork entries will be accepted between April 18 and April 22 2016 at Congressman Babin’s three District Offices:  Deer Park (832) 780-0966, Orange (409) 883-8075, and Woodville (844) 303-8934.

Teachers and Students please review the Submission Check-List. A signed Information and Release form must be attached to the back of each piece at the time of submission.

Notification of Acceptance:  April 27, 2016

Teachers will be notified by email with the names of students whose artwork reached the final jurying.  Accepted artwork will be displayed at the University of Houston Clear-Lake Bayou Building from April 28-29, 2016.

Awards Presentation: University of Houston-Clear Lake, starting at 10:00am on April 30, 2016

The event is free and open to the public. We invite all students, families, teachers and the general public to view this celebration of the great artistic talent of our local high school students. There will be hors d’oeuvres during the exhibition, followed by a short recognition program, culminating in the announcement of the winners of An Artistic Discovery.

Exhibition Opening in Washington D.C. – mid June (Date – To Be Announced)

Each year there is an event for the unveiling of the student artwork from all across the nation. The winning student will be invited to this forum and to visit Congressman Babin in Washington, D.C. (Travel will be provided to the winner from each Congressional District).