Congressional Art Competition

Initiated by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982, the event is a nationwide annual art competition that allows high school students from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories to showcase their artistic ability. The winning piece of art from each Congressional district is displayed in an eleven-month exhibit in the Cannon tunnel that leads into the U.S. Capitol.

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

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 be framed before it arrives at Washington, D.C.. Even when framed, it must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds. Each student is allowed only one submission for the competition.

  • 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).

Each student must fill out the Student Release Form and attach it to their submission email.

Students wanting to participate must submit the following to Madelyn.Medina@mail.house.gov:

  1. A scan or picture of your artwork
  2. A completed Student Release Form
  3. Please use the subject line: “[Full Name] Congressional Art Competition Submission”

The 2024 submission period is now open. Students wishing to take part must submit their artwork and all required documents by midnight on March 31, 2024.

If you would like more information on the annual Congressional Art Competition, click here. You may also contact Madelyn at Madelyn.Medina@mail.house.gov with questions.

Please note that there is no theme for this year's competition.

We look forward to seeing the work of our talented high school artists!

Student Information
Prefix: *
First Name: *
Last Name: *
Suffix: (Jr., Sr.)
Address: *
City: *
State: *
Zip Code: *
Student Email: *
Student Phone: *
Grade Level: *
T-Shirt Size: *
Parent or Guardian Information
Parents/Guardians Name(s):*
Parent or Guardian Email: *
Parent or Guardian Phone: *
School Information
High School Name: *
High School Address:
City: *
State: *
Zip Code: *
Art Teacher Name: *
Art Teacher Phone Number: *
Art Teacher Email: *
Entry Information
Entry Title: *
Entry Medium: *
Description: *
 

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