Each Spring the United States House of Representatives sponsors an art competition for high school students. 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.
All high school students (9-12thgrade) who reside in or attend school in the 8th Congressional District are encouraged to participate. The winning entry from Georgia’s Eighth Congressional District will be displayed in the United States Capitol for a year alongside artwork from every congressional district across the country. Artwork submitted must be original, no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” and can be in the form of paintings (oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.), drawings (pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers), collage (must be 2 dimensional), prints (lithographs, silkscreen, block prints), mixed media, computer generated art, or photography.
This year, all of the entries for Congressman Austin Scott’s district will be displayed at Rigby’s Entertainment Complex in Warner Robins for an exhibit lasting from April 21-April 27. A new component has been added to this year’s competition: the “People’s Choice Award.” All of the submitted entries will be posted on Congressman Austin Scott’s Facebook page giving 8th District constituents the opportunity to choose their favorite. All artwork must be submitted April 14-16 at one of the following six drop-off locations:
Howard High School: 6400 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA
Congressman Scott’s District Office in Warner Robins: 230 Margie Drive, Suite 500, Warner Robins, GA
Dodge County High School: 350 Pearl Bates Road, Eastman, GA
Thomas County Central High: 4685 US Hwy 84, Thomasville, GA
Congressman Scott’s District Office in Tifton: 127-B Central Ave N, Tifton, GA
Lowndes County High: 1606 Norman Drive, Valdosta, GA
Three award winning works of art will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges. Congressman Scott will announce the winners at an Awards Ceremony and Reception at Rigby’s Entertainment Complex on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 3 p.m. The first place art work will be displayed at the US Capitol for an 11-month exhibit beginning in June, 2014. The winning student will receive two airline tickets to Washington DC for the national ceremony and ribbon cutting of the art exhibit. The student will also be eligible to receive a $3,000 per year admission scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design, should they apply and be accepted. The People’s Choice Award winner’s artwork will be displayed in Congressman Scott’s Washington D.C. office, unless it is the same piece that wins the overall competition, in which case the first place offerings apply.
Participation from every school in the 8th District is strongly encouraged but that it be limited to only one entry per student. Artwork does not have to be framed for the district competition however there needs to be some type of mounting on the back in order for it to be hung.
For more information or questions, please contact Alice Johnson in Scott’s Tifton District Office: (229) 396-5175 or alice.johnson@mail.house.gov.