Each spring, the Congressional Institute of the U.S. Congress sponsors a nationwide high school visual arts competition for students in grades 9-12 to recognize artistic talent in each Congressional District. This year, I invite you to create a piece of art to participate in the virtual art competition. A panel of local artists will select the winner, and the winning artwork will be publicly displayed at the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The winning student and one adult will be flown to Washington, DC (pending the status of the coronavirus pandemic).
The virtual art competition open to all students in grades 9-12 who reside in California’s 26th Congressional District.
- 1st Place piece can ultimately be no larger than 26”x 26” x 4”, with a required frame.
- Artwork does not have to be framed at time of consideration. Artwork, on paper, may be displayed using push pins so please provide acceptable border for this purpose.
- Artwork cannot exceed 15 pounds, including frame, and must be two-dimensional.
- Accepted mediums are as follows:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal
- Collage: must be two-dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed media: Use of more than two mediums
- Computer-generated art
- Photography
- Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any copyright laws.
- 1st Place piece will hang in the Capitol for an entire year and cannot be returned to the student earlier.
- 2nd-4th place will be displayed in District office for 1 year with student’s permission.
Learn more about the rules and guidelines here.
STUDENT INFORMATION/RELEASE FORM: Download here.
This form must be emailed with email submission.
NOTE: A teacher’s signature will not be required this year.
HOW TO SUBMIT: Up to three digital images of the artwork and the Student Information/Release form must be emailed to CA26art@gmail.com before 5:00 pm on or before Wednesday, May 27, 2020.
Only email submissions will be accepted.
QUESTIONS: Contact Cheri Orgel at (805) 379-1779 or e-mail Cheri.Orgel@mail.house.gov.
