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Art Competition

Student Artist smiling with paintbrush and paint palette

2021 Art Competition

The Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition each spring to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation as well as in our congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

We want to encourage students to submit their art in this fun and creative competition. The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in the Eighth District.

The winner of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol with other winning pieces from around the country.

SUBMISSION DETAILS:

  • Students must turn in submissions either via email or in person to Congressman Krishnamoorthi’s District Office no later than 5 PM on Friday April 30th.
  • Students can submit their art piece via email by sending a picture (preferably in .jpeg format) of your art piece to IL08ArtCompetition@gmail.com along with their student release form. They can also be delivered to our office at 1701 E. Woodfield Rd. STE 704 from 9am-5pm.
  • Here is the link to the student release form

Here is the link to the rules for students and teachers

Those rules are as follows, each piece:

  • Must be two-dimensional and no larger than 26 inches by 26 inches by 4 inches
  • Must not weigh more than 15 pounds, including the frame
  • Must have the 2021 Student Release Form
  • Must be original in concept, design, and execution, and may not violate U.S. copyright laws
  • Art pieces are NOT required to be framed for judging
  • Accepted mediums are:
    • 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

Additional Notes:

  • There is a limit of ONE submission per student. There is NO limit on the number of submissions from each school.
  • We recognize that many students may not be able to have their teacher sign the student release form due to school closures. If they are unable to do so, they may indicate their teacher's support another way. For instance, when submitting the form, the student may attach an email from an art teacher certifying the artwork's originality.
  • 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.
  • Ensure student’s full name, name of school, title of piece, and phone number (for contact purposes), along with the attached picture of artwork, are included in the email.
  • BOTH the mailed Information/Release Form AND the email with attached picture of artwork must be received by May 15th for the registration to be complete and valid