The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity for local high school students to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
Teachers and/or students should verify their eligibility with the office of the Member of Congress. Artwork must be the creation of 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
- 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.
If you would like more information on Congresswoman Clarke’s Congressional Art Competition, please contact my community outreach team:
Orlando Ross
orlando.ross@mail.house.gov
Michelle Mei
michelle.mei@mail.house.gov
All entries are due by Friday April 10, 2026 and can be mailed to or dropped off at Congresswoman Clarke’s District Office. Entries not received by April 10th will not be accepted. Entrants are required to pay for framing if selected as the winner and runners-up. For more information and application materials, please click here.
Below are additional resources for students and teachers:
- 2026 Congresswoman Clarke Art Competition Application
- 2026 Congressional Art Competition Rules & Regulations
- 2026 Student Release Form
If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, contact our office at (202) 225-6231.
2026 Congressional Art Competition Timeline:
April 20, 2026: Submission Deadline
May 2026: Winners Selected
June 25, 2026: DC Reception for All 1st Place Winners
2025 recap of the Art Competition, visit here.