Congressional Art Competition

CLICK HERE to view the winner and runner ups of the 2024 competition.

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District.

The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students in our District. 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 following is a summary of the Congressional Art Competition 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 above maximum dimensions.

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

All entries must be original in concept, design, and execution.

To participate in California’s Third Congressional District’s (CA-03) Art Competition, students must either reside or attend school in the district, which includes Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, Placer, Alpine, Mono, and Inyo, and parts of Yuba, El Dorado, and Sacramento counties. To confirm that you or your school are in Congressman Kiley’s district, please use the following link: Find Your Representative | house.gov

Please note that artists must complete the Student Release Form and include it with their completed artwork. Additional information can be found on the Art Submission Checklist and the Rules for Students and Teachers.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Congressman Kiley’s district office at 916-724-2575 or email Jack.Thompson@mail.house.gov.

Please find deadlines for the competition, below:

  • Artwork is due for submission at Congressman Kevin Kiley’s District Office (6538 Lonetree Blvd, Suite 200, Rocklin) by April 22. Our business hours are 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday.
  • A reception, where the winner will be announced, will be held on Saturday,  April 27 at the Sierra College Q Building (5100 Sierra College Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95677). To see a map of the campus, click here. The reception will take place from 4:00pm – 6:00pm PT.
    • Second and third place finishers will be eligible to have their artwork hung in Congressman Kiley’s Washington D.C. and District offices, respectively.
    • All students who attend the reception will receive Congressional Honor from Congressman Kiley to recognize their work and participation in the competition.