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Congressional Art Competition

Calling all artists!

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. I invite all high school students in Ohio's Second Congressional District to enter the annual competition.

Students may submit their original, two-dimensional artwork via email to Evan.Nash@mail.house.gov and a panel of judges will select first place, second place, and third place winners, alongside a "viewer's choice" determined by online voting.

The first place winner will have his/her work displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and will receive an invitation to attend an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. recognizing each of the winners from across the nation. The runners-up will have their artwork displayed prominently in one of my offices.

General Guidelines

The following guidelines apply for all entries:
  • Artwork must be two-dimensional.
  • Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate 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.
  • Each framed artwork can be no larger than 26 inches long, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds.
  • Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature will not be accepted.
***NOTE: In accordance with the suitability guidelines released by the House Office Building Commission, Congressman Wenstrup's staff will conduct a suitability review of all submissions prior to judging. They reserve the right to withdraw any piece deemed inappropriate for display in the U.S. Capitol. If you have questions about the Building Commission's guidelines, or if you are unsure about whether a particular submission is acceptable, please contact Congressman Wenstrup's staff.***

We request that photos or scans of all entries be submitted digitally, via email, to Evan.Nash@mail.house.gov.  Please be sure to submit BOTH an image of the artwork as well as the completed and signed release form.   

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at 5:00pm.

Accepted Mediums

Accepted mediums for 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)
  • Prints: lithographs, silk screen, block prints
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
  • Collages (must be two dimensional)
  • Computer-generated art
  • Photographs

Important Documents

If you have any questions, please call Evan Nash at (513)-474-7777.