Congressional Art Competition
Background
The Congressional Art Competition was created in 1982 to showcase art from high school students across the country, and hundreds of thousands of students participated have since then. One winner is chosen from each district, and the winner’s artwork is then sent to Washington, D.C. for display in the U.S. Capitol. Second and third place winners will have their artwork exhibited in 14th Congressional District Offices for one year. The 14th District is filled with talented young artists. Every year, I am impressed by each entry and enjoy highlighting the work of our district’s artistic high school students to visiting constituents touring the Capitol.
Past winners from the 14th District, and nationwide, are featured on the Congressional Art Competition Website.
Qualifications
The competition is open to high school students only. Teachers and/or students should verify their eligibility with the office of the Member of Congress. Many of our school districts are located in two different Congressional Districts, therefore, all entries must be submitted to the Member of Congress where the student has residency. Students may confirm their U.S. Representative at house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.
Artwork must be two-dimensional. Each framed artwork can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive in Washington, DC, framed. Even when framed, it must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds.
Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork 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.)
- Collages: 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
- Photographs
Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate 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. Please refer here for guidelines on copyright and plagiarism.
Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).
How to Submit Your Artwork
Submissions for this year’s competition are now being accepted. The submission deadline is 4:30 pm on Friday, April 13. *One submission per student, please.*
Please call for an appointment to drop off artwork submissions at the following location:
Campton Hills District Office
40W310 LaFox Road
Suite F2
Campton Hills, IL 60175
Call for appointment: 630-584-2734
To submit your artwork for the Congressional Art Competition, please fill and sign the following release form:
Please review the following guidelines and rules for the Congressional Art Competition:
- 2018 Congressional Art Competition: Guidelines & Rules for Students & Teachers
- 2018 Art Submission Checklist
- 2018 Guide to Copyright and Plagiarism
Winning the Competition
Submitted artwork will be hung at a local gallery for a reception announcing the winners, so please make certain that your artwork is “ready to hang.” (If selected, winners will be required to frame their piece for display in the Capitol Building.) Each winner also receives a roundtrip ticket to Washington, D.C. compliments of Southwest Airlines. In addition, second and third place winners will have their artwork exhibited in 14th Congressional District Offices for one year.
Additional Information
For any additional questions, please contact my Campton Hills Office at (630) 584-2734.
