Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual arts competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.

The 2025 Congressional Art Competition is now open! Deadline to submit artwork is May 1, 2025 at 5:00PM

Theme: “Massachusetts Stories: From Past to Present”

This theme encourages artists to tell the unique stories of Massachusetts through its historical significance and contemporary culture. Artists can draw inspiration from key moments in the state’s history, while also reflecting on modern-day Massachusetts in terms of diversity, innovation and community. The theme invites a range of mediums to explore the state’s past and its ongoing journey.

The competition is open to high school students. Students should enter the competition in the district they reside, not where they attend school. Members may choose whether to include 7th and 8th grade students in the art competition if schools located in their districts house 7th through 12th grades on one campus. Teachers and/or students should verify their eligibility with the office of the Member of Congress. Artwork must be the creation a single student. Students may not collaborate on an entry. 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 (Charcoal and pastel must 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

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. For more information on copyright laws, we recommend you visit the Scholastic website:
https://www.artandwriting.org/awards/how-to-enter/copyright-plagiarism/

Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting, drawing, etc.). Artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel for the duration of the exhibition. Students should only submit artwork they will not need for other purposes.

Suitability Guidelines
Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission (the Commission). In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. Each Member of Congress will be required to submit a Letter of Support confirming that the Member has determined that the winning artwork adheres to the Commission’s policy. However, if another Member of Congress requests review of any artwork for compliance with the Commission’s policy, the final decision regarding the artwork’s suitability for display will be made by the Commission. While it is not the intent to censor any artwork, we do wish to avoid artwork that is potentially inappropriate for display in this highly travelled area leading to the Capitol.

Student Information and Release Form
Each entrant must submit a Student Information and Release Form. The Student Information and Release Form is available through the office of your Member of Congress. The information requested on the first page of the form should be provided as thoroughly as possible. Students should include their mailing addresses if they differ from their home addresses. Students should also include contact information that will be valid for several years. (For instance, students, especially seniors, are encouraged to include a personal email address rather than a school email address that will expire at the end of their senior year.) The form requires a description of the artwork, which should be detailed, clearly identifying the major elements of the work. For example, “self-portrait” or “a picture of two people” would be unacceptable, since many artworks would fit those descriptions. The following is an example of a useful description: “A painting of two people; the person on the left wears a green sweater and khaki pants; the person on the right wears a black shirt and a striped skirt. A dog sits at their feet.”

The second page of the Student Information and Release Form contains a legal release and a certification that the artwork is original in design and execution. The student, an art teacher, and a parent or guardian must sign where appropriate. Entries without signed originality certifications and artwork releases may not be accepted. A TYPED copy of the Student Information and Release Form, signed by the teacher, a parent or guardian, and the student, must be securely attached to the back of the artwork to certify the originality of the piece. Please retain a
copy for your records.

In order for a student to have their submitted artwork considered, they must send the attached release form, along with their art submission (at the same time). If this is not completed and attached, the student’s submission will not be considered. All students must fill out this form. Any student under the age of 18 must also submit their guardian’s signature, or the student’s submission will not be considered. 

ALL ARTWORK SUBMISSIONS — ALONG WITH STUDENT RELEASE FORMS — MUST BE SCANNED AND SENT TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS: ma082025artcomp@gmail.com.

Please Email any questions regarding the Art Competition to claire.chapman@mail.house.gov

Information and deadlines for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge will be posted on this page when available.

Established in 2015, the Congressional App Challenge challenges middle and high school students to design and enter their original apps for a chance to win and attend the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, DC. Winners also have the chance to display their app proposal in the U.S. Capitol. 

Qualifications:

• Must be a middle or high school student at the time of app submission.
• Students may register as individuals or as teams of up to four. No more than four students are allowed to form a team.
• Applicants to our office must be residents of or go to school in the 8th Congressional District.
• If competing as a team, at least half of the teammates must be eligible to compete in the district in which they are participating in.
• Submissions are due TBD.

For more information on challenge and app guidelines, please visit the CAC website here.

Please email any questions regarding the App Challenge to Claire.Chapman@mail.house.gov