Art Competition
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 competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning work is displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
CONGRESSMAN AUCHINCLOSS AND THE CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION:
If you are a student residing in the 4th District, you can submit one original piece for consideration in the Congressional Art Competition through the office of Congressman Auchincloss. Each year, the Congressman assembles an independent panel of artists and artistic professionals from across the district who select the winning submissions. The panel will select a "Best in Show." This piece will be sent down to Washington, DC to hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year.
How to enter:
2023 competition Update: We are happy to announce the MA04-Congressional Art Competition will be back in person! All entries will need to be submitted online and the physical artwork will need to be dropped off to either 29 Crafts Street Suite 375, Newton, MA 02458 or 8 North Main Street Suite 200, Attleboro, MA 02703.
RECEPTION: We have an in-person reception planned for Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11am at the Attleboro Arts Museum (86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA). All submitted artwork will be on display for public viewing, and the winner will be announced at the reception.
Any 4th District student interested in entering a piece must do so through the online application form.
Please email Kevin.O’Neil@mail.house.gov with any questions.
Important competition guidelines:
- Artwork must be two dimensional, no larger than 26" x 26" x 4” (including matting or framing)
- Artwork must weigh less than 15 lbs.
- Artwork must be original in concept, design and execution – and must comply with U.S. Copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo, painting, graphic, advertisement, or any work produced by another person will NOT be accepted.
- Artwork must be within the following categories.
- Paintings: oils, watercolors, acrylics, etc.
- Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
- Collage: 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
- Photography
Information for Winning Artwork:
- If artwork is chosen by the panel, the piece must be framed by the student or school. This is per instructions of the Congressional Institute.
- Two sturdy screw in eye hooks must be attached at the top left and right sides of the back of the frame for hanging to prevent the work from leaning forward or hanging unevenly (examples are in guidelines)
- Artwork must have student’s correct identification on back of artwork.
- Winning artwork must be submitted in the original medium. (no scanned reproductions accepted)
Eligibility:
- Artwork must be original in concept, design and execution – and must comply with U.S. Copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo, painting, graphic, advertisement, or any work produced by another person will NOT be accepted.
- The Competition is open to public and private High School students only. Exceptions may be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades on one campus.
- Each student must verify that their residence is in the Fourth Congressional District.
You can read the rules and guidelines published by the Congressional Institute.