* Due to coronavirus, submissions are now due no later than June 3rd at 12pm! *

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District.

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in our District. The winning artwork of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov's Congressional Art Competition page.

The following is a summary of the Congressional Art Competition rules:

Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches, may be up to 4 inches in depth, and not weigh more than 15 pounds. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive framed and must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions.

Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork are as follows:

• Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
• Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
• Collages - must be two dimensional
• Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
• Mixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
• Computer-generated art
• Photography

All entries 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 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. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).

The rules, checklist, and release form for the competition are available here.

The deadline to submit artwork is June 3, 2020 at 12pm.  Artwork must be submited in person at either one of the 18th Congressional District offices in Stuart or Port St. Lucie. Offices will be open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. The winner for the district will be determined and announced at the Semi-Virtual Congressional Art Competition District Recption on Wednesday, June 3, 2020.  

Your submission of artwork signifies your permission to have your artwork displayed online, at a final art competition show and in the United States Capitol.  The following form must be completed, printed and submitted with the artwork.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Port St. Lucie office at 772-336-2877.