Art Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide art competition for high school students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. The contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent in our country.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the First District. The overall winner of our district's competition will have his or her artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol among artwork from other nationwide winners.
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
All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws.
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.
Student release forms must accompany each entry:
Click here to download the rules for students and teachers.
Click here to download the student release form.
Click here to download the submission checklist.
The deadline for 2018 entries is Tuesday, May 1.
If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition please submit the following form or contact James Teague at (773) 779-2400.