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Congressional Art Competition

The 2024 Congressional Art Competition is Closed to Submissions.

 

Click Here to View the Full Gallery and to Vote for the 2024 People’s Choice Award

 
2024 Art Competition Theme: Open theme - there will be no requirements for art work to follow a theme this year.

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Students submit their artwork, either through their high school art teachers or individually, which will then be judged by an independent panel of artists who will select the winners in each category. This is "blind judging" meaning judges have no knowledge of the artists' identity prior to making their decisions. Please make sure that your submission does not contain any personal information.

Winners are recognized in both their Congressional district and in Washington, D.C. with a ceremony hosted by the Congressional Institute in June. The winning works are displayed for one year along the hallway between the Cannon House Office Building and the United States Capitol Building for thousands of people to view.

The Best of Show winner may receive two round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines to attend the ceremony.

Winners in all categories will be presented with a ribbon and a Congressional Certificate of Recognition.

EXHIBITION & AWARD CEREMONY

COMPETITION RULES:

- This competition is open to high school-aged students (grades 9-12) and homeschooled students with high school equivalent who reside within the 5th Congressional District of Colorado. Click here to confirm your representative and district: https://www.house.gov/

- Each artist may submit one piece of artwork.

- The artwork must be framed. Artwork must be submitted with two sturdy eye hooks attached at the top right and left sides of the back of the frame. Please ensure the piece is ready to hang, that you have the identification information listed on the back of the artwork, and that the Student Release Form is handed to the art competition staff. (Identification information: Artist's name, school, phone number, email, teacher's name and email).

- No fragile glass faced frames will be accepted, normal durable glass, plexiglass, museum glass, or clear plastic is acceptable.

Categories:

Paintings: Watercolors, Oils, and Acrylics

Drawings: Pencil, Colored Pencil, Markers, Ink, Pastels, and Charcoal

Mixed Media: The use of two or more mediums

Computer Generated Art: Original concept computer-generated images

Collages: Paper, photographs, fabrics, etc.

Photography: May include computer editing as long as the integrity of the image remains intact

Prints: Lithographs, Silkscreens, and Block Prints

Artwork Intake & Submission

STEP 1) Thoroughly read the OFFICIAL RULES.

STEP 2) Submit the WEBFORM to register for the competition by February 9, 2023.

STEP 3) Fill out the RELEASE FORM and bring it with your artwork at drop off.

STEP 4) Artwork may be dropped off at our district office anytime between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the following dates:

January 29th- February 9th

Location: 1125 Kelly Johnson Boulevard, Suite 330, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Don't hesitate to contact my art competition coordinator, Jordan Jantzen, with any questions at 719-520-0055.

We reserve the right to refuse any entries that are deemed inappropriate.

 

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Art display