Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is
sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to
recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our congressional district.
This is an opportunity for our young artists grades 9-12 to showcase their talents and have national recognition for
their work. The winner of New York's 22nd Congressional District will have their entry on full display in the U.S.
Capitol for one year and will be personally invited to Washington, D.C. for a reception honoring artists from across
the country.
The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students in the 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 nation-wide.
Requirements
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
Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate 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. For more
information on copyright laws, we recommend you visit the Scholastic
website.
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 Isaac Smith in Rep. Williams Utica District office at (315)732-0713 or
Isaac.smith@mail.house.gov, if you have any questions or need additional information.
Entries must be delivered to the Congressman’s Utica or Syracuse District Office by Wednesday, April 24th at 5:00PM.
2024 Art Submission Checklist
2024 Rules for Students and Teachers
2024 Student Release Form