Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives host the Congressional Art Competition to provide an opportunity to recognize and showcase artistic talent across the Nation, including in Southern Ohio.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high schoolers, with the winning artwork being displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and featured on the Congressional Art Competition website. The exhibit in Washington, D.C. will include the winning artwork from all 435 participating districts from around the country.
High school students who reside in Ohio’s Second Congressional District are eligible to apply through Congressman Dave Taylor’s office. To verify your residence, please visit house.gov/htbin/zipfind.
Selection Process
This year's winner will be selected through the following process:
- A panel will choose the top four pieces of submitted artwork.
- The winning artwork will be displayed in the Capitol in Washington, D.C., alongside other winners from across the country.
- The second-place artwork will be displayed in Congressman Taylor’s Washington, D.C. office, and additional runners-up will be showcased in the Union Township and Peebles district offices.
An awards ceremony will be held on May 2nd at 4:00 p.m. at Shawnee State University. All teachers, participating students, and their family members are welcome to attend.
Submission Information
To be considered for the Congressional Art Competition, all artwork must be submitted in person or sent directly to one of Congressman Taylor’s district offices:
- Union Township: 4350 Aicholtz Road, Suite 110, Cincinnati, OH 45202
- Peebles: 170 North Main Street, Peebles, OH 45660
If you would like to drop off artwork at the Chillicothe office, please contact the office to schedule a drop-off time.
Deadline for artwork submission: April 18th at 5:00PM EST.
Artwork Requirements
- Each student may submit one piece of two-dimensional art.
- The artwork can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, including its frame.
- No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds.
Accepted Mediums
- 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
Originality & Copyright Rules
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, please visit the Scholastic website.
Entry Submission Requirements
- Each entry MUST be accompanied by 2 typed copies of the 2025 Student Entry and Release Form.
- One copy should be attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece.
- The other copy should be submitted to staff when the piece is delivered to a district office location.
- These forms must be signed by the art teacher, the student, and their guardian.
Labeling Instructions
Please type and affix a large label with the below format to the back of your artwork, along with one copy of the 2025 Student Entry and Release Form.
History of the Congressional Art Competition
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 in the nationwide competition.
Contact Information
For more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, please contact Kelli Johnson at (202) 590-0215.