Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives champions the creative spirit of young Americans through the Congressional Art Competition. Since its inception in 1982, this contest has inspired over 650,000 high school students to engage with the arts, offering them a platform to showcase their extraordinary talents on a national stage.
This year, the competition remains a vibrant opportunity for high school students from every congressional district, including South Carolina’s 5th District, represented by Congressman Ralph Norman. The district spans areas from Cherokee to York counties, including portions of Spartanburg and Sumter.
Participants are encouraged to submit artwork in a variety of mediums—ranging from paintings and drawings to photography and mixed media. Each entry should be no larger than 26” x 26” x 4” including the frame, and must not exceed 15 pounds.
Key Details for Entrants:
- Submissions are being accepted now through April 24th and may be sent digitally to Mackenzie Gresham at [email protected]. Judges will receive all entries digitally along with the written student statement about their piece (Title, explanation of piece, technique, etc.) Winners will be selected by a panel of judges on May 8th
- Panels of judges in past years have included local artists such as Jim Shore, Nancy Thomas, J. Michael Simpson, and others.
- Rules, regulations, and the student release form may be found here: https://www.house.gov/educators-and-students/congressional-art-competition or by simply searching “Congressional Art Competition” in a search engine.
- Press releases of past SC-5 Winners can be found here: 2021, 2022, 2023.
- First place winner will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year and be recognized at the annual Congressional Art Competition Celebration in Washington D.C. over the summer.
