Since 1982, young people from across the country have had the opportunity to display their art inside the United States Capitol – and this year is no different. Eastern Washington’s winner will display his or her piece of art for the thousands of visitors who come to our nation’s Capitol, and three runners-up will have the chance to display their entries in the Congresswoman’s Spokane, Colville, and Walla Walla offices.

The winning student will be invited to Washington, D.C. for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and will have his or her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Students grade 9-12 are encouraged to submit various styles and types of art, ranging from paintings and drawings to photography and mixed media pieces. The artwork must be original in design, no more than 15 lbs., no larger than 26” X 26” X 4,” and be prepared for hanging. Three runners-up will have their artwork on display in the Congresswoman’s Spokane, Colville, and Walla Walla offices. Each student may submit one piece of artwork.

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

A TYPED copy of the 2017 Student 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.

Submissions may be brought to the Congresswoman’s offices in Spokane, Walla Walla, or Colville.

The winner of the competition will also receive two airline tickets to attend the Congressional Art Competition Reception in Washington, D.C. and see his or her artwork as it is displayed.

The deadline for submission is April 26, 2017 by 5:00 PM PST. For any further questions, contact Jessie Laughery at 509-353-2374.