Rep. Wilson invites submissions to Congressional Art Competition

Open to high school students in S.C.'s Second District

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Wednesday, May 4, 2022

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 Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their participating 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. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. [caption id="attachment_49837" align="alignright" width="401"] "My Dreams in Bloom" by Gabby Brown of Dreher High School, the Second Congressional District of South Carolina’s 2021 Congressional Art Competition Winner[/caption] In South Carolina, Congressman Joe Wilson of the second Congressional District participates*. He issued the following statement to encourage Second District students to enter the Congressional Art Competition:

“I am pleased to announce that my office is accepting submissions for the 2022 Congressional Art Competition. Each year this contest allows our high school students the opportunity to showcase their special talents and I look forward to seeing all the wonderful entries.

This is truly a spectacular exhibit - one that I encourage all to come and see if you are ever in Washington.

Congratulations again to Gabby Brown from Dreher High School, on being the 2021 Congressional Art Competition winner for South Carolina’s Second District. For the past 40 years, the Congressional Art Competition has inspired and encouraged young artists."

*Members of the U.S. House of Representatives participate in this annual, nationwide high school art competition. To the best of The Hub's knowledge, after researching all seven S.C. representatives' media releases, Rep. Wilson is the only participating member of Congress from South Carolina.

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Here are some specific details about the submissions for the 2022 competition. Artwork must be two-dimensional and represent this year's theme: American Patriotism. 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. 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, silk screen, block prints
• Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc
• Computer-generated art
• Photographs

Entries must be original in concept, design, and execution, and must be entered in the original medium (i.e., not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing). It must not violate U.S. copyright laws. All submissions must be delivered to Congressman Wilson’s district offices in the Midlands or Aiken/Barnwell by close of business May 4, 2022. Those addresses are:

• Midlands: 1700 Sunset Blvd./U.S. 378, Suite 1, West Columbia (29169)
• Aiken/Barnwell: 1930 University Parkway, Suite 1600, Aiken (29801)

Important documents

• Student Release Form
• Competition Guidelines

If you would like any additional information or have any questions about the Congressional Art Competition, please contact Katherine Almeida in the Midlands office at 803.939.0041.