2025 Congressional Art Competition
Our office’s 2025 Congressional Art Competition is now open and accepting digital submissions (JPEG and PNG formats). The deadline for Congressional Art Competition submissions is Friday 4/5/2025. For questions, please email nikko.griffin@mail.house.gov.
Each spring, a nationwide arts competition for high school students in 9th-12th grades is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in 9th-12th grades in OH-01. The winning artwork of our district’s competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov’s Congressional Art Competition page.
Theme
The OH-01 2025 Congressional Art Competition theme is ‘Visions of Tomorrow – AI & Humanity in Harmony,’ inviting high school artists to imagine the future through the lens of artificial intelligence.
Categories
- Paintings – including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
- Drawings – including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed)
- Collages – must be two dimensional
- Prints – including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
- Mixed Media – use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Digital Creations (NO AI)
- Photography
Rules
Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 28 inches by 28 inches, may be up to 4 inches in depth, and not weigh more than 15 pounds. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive framed and must still measure no larger than the maximum dimensions. For initial entry, please submit a digital copy of artwork, JEPG and PNG formats are accepted no later than 4/5/2025.
All entries must be original in concept, design and execution and may not violate any 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. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing).
NO AI-GENERATED ART IS ALLOWED.
Submission
- Artists must submit their entries digitally through our website or by emailing Nikko Griffin at nikko.griffin@mail.house.gov
- Entries must include a high-resolution image of the artwork, a brief description, and the artist’s name, age, and contact information including name of high school.
- Submissions will be accepted starting on February 1, 2025 and will close on April 5, 2025.
Judging
A panel of experienced artists and art professionals will judge the entries based on creativity, technique, originality, and adherence to the theme. Winners will be selected for each category, from these category winners, an overall winner will be chosen to have their artwork displayed at the US Capitol Building for one year.
Awards
- The overall winner will receive a trip to DC for the annual reception
- Artwork displayed in U.S. Capitol for one year
Closing Ceremony
A closing ceremony and awards presentation will take place in the spring for winners to receive their prizes and certificates. This event will also provide an opportunity for artists, their families, and art enthusiasts to come together and celebrate the artistic achievements of Ohio’s youth.
Please email nikko.griffin@mail.house.gov with any questions.