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 the 12th District. The over-all winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.
Students should enter the competition in the district they reside, not where they attend school. Teachers and/or students should verify their eligibility with the office of the Member of Congress. Artwork must be the creation a single student. Students may not collaborate on an entry. Artwork must be two-dimensional.
Art works entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches (including the frame) and may be up to 4 inches in depth. The art work may be
- Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
- Drawings - including pastes, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
- Collage
- Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
- Mixed Media
- Computer Generated Art
- Photography
All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution. Artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel for the duration of the exhibition. Students should only submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.Please review the rules and regulations below to ensure your piece meets the requirements for submission.
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.
If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition - including this year's deadlines - Please contact the Washington DC Office at 202-225-5635
Submissions can be emailed as a .jpeg file to ny12dcschedule@mail.house.gov.
The submission process for 2024 is closed. Please check back in 2025 for information about next year's contest.
Submissions are limited to ONE entry per student
Documents:
Art Submission Checklist
Release Form
Rules and Regulations
A Guide to Copyright & Plagiarism