Art Competition
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 artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Indiana's First District. The winning artwork 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 the House of Representatives Congressional Art Competition page.
The following is a summary of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition rules:
Artwork must be the creation of a single student. Students may not collaborate on an entry. 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 arrive in Washington, DC, framed. Even when framed, it must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds.
Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork are as follows:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
- Collages: must be two dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photographs
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).
There is no required theme for the submission; however, themes from Northwest Indiana, United States history, government, and culture are encouraged. The winner will have their artwork displayed in the United States Capitol for one year, and will receive two (2) complimentary round-trip tickets from Southwest Airlines and an invitation to attend a ceremony unveiling the artwork in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 27, 2024. All additional travel arrangements and expenses will be the responsibility of the winner.
The submission checklist, rules & regulations, and student release form for the competition are below:
Artwork and Student Release Forms must be submitted to the Merrillville District Office, located at 7895 Broadway, Suite A, Merrillville, Indiana 46410, no later than 5:00 p.m. CT on Friday, April 26, 2024. In the event you have any questions about the Congressional Art Competition, please contact Elizabeth Johnson in the Merrillville District Office at 219-795-1844 or Elizabeth.Johnson@mail.house.gov.