Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Congressional Institute and 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. Here in the Pennsylvania's 6th District, we partner with CCIU and the Chester County Art Association to conduct the competition. Any high school student living in the district can enter and by having a teacher fill out this simple form.
2026 IMPORTANT DATES:
Registration deadline: March 12, 2026
Show runs: Saturday, April 11, 2026, to Saturday, April 18, 2026
Reception: Wednesday, April 15, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m.
The first-place winner’s artwork will hang in Washington, DC, from June 2026 to May 2027. The second and third place winners’ artwork will hang in our West Chester and Reading offices. Please do not submit artwork that will be needed for other purposes during that period. Stay tuned for deadlines on artwork drop offs and pickups after the show.
Requirements
Artwork must be two-dimensional. 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 arrive in Washington, DC, 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, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photographs
Our 2025 winners:
First Place: Chayanant Leelasanti, Self Portrait, Phoenixville Area High School
Second Place: Jordan Wolfe, A Contrast of Symbolism, Exeter Township Senior High School
Third Place: Keara Schott, Y-Axis Menschen Tempora Anni, Coatesville Area Senior High School
Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition 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. Here in the Pennsylvania's 6th District, we partner with the Chester County Intermediate Unit and the Chester County Art Association to conduct the competition.
Our 2024 winners:
First Place: Emily Otto, Mourning Dew, B Reed Henderson High School
Second Place: Mar Clark, Mother & Child, Phoenixville Area High School
Third Place: Mason Warwick, Mackerel, Delaware Valley Friends School
Honorary Mention: Monica Stratton, Rusty Skate, Exeter High School
2026 IMPORTANT DATES:
Registration deadline: March 12, 2026
Show runs: Saturday, April 11, 2026 to Saturday, April 18, 2026
Reception: Wednesday, April 15, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Stay tuned for deadlines on artwork drop offs and pickups after the show.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the District. The over-all winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.
2026 IMPORTANT DATES:
Registration deadline: March 12, 2026
Show runs: Saturday, April 11, 2026 to Saturday, April 18, 2026
Reception: Wednesday, April 15, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Stay tuned for deadlines on artwork drop offs and pickups after the show.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the District. The over-all winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.
2026 IMPORTANT DATES:
Registration deadline: March 12, 2026
Show runs: Saturday, April 11, 2026 to Saturday, April 18, 2026
Reception: Wednesday, April 15, 2025 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Stay tuned for deadlines on artwork drop offs and pickups after the show.
The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the District. The over-all winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide.
