Skip to Content

Art Competition

Each spring, a nationwide high school art competition titled “An Artistic Discovery” is sponsored by the Congressional Institute in coordination with members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The contest is an opportunity to participate in the arts and recognize artistic talent in Western New York and across the nation. 

An Artistic Discovery is open to all high school students. The top winner from each district will be invited to a ceremony in Washington, D.C., and have their artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The winning artwork will also be featured on the House of Representatives’ web page.

This year’s theme is: “Western New York: A Place for All of Us.” Artwork should capture the artist's appreciation for the people who make Western New York a great place to live. 

All artwork must be framed and no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. Framed pieces may not weigh more than 15 pounds. If your artwork is selected as the winning entry, the framed piece sent to Washington, D.C. must meet these same size and weight guidelines.

Accepted media 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 (Note: AI-generated art is not permitted.)
   - 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.

To view the rules and regulations for the competition, please click here. Each submission must be accompanied by a completed release form. 

Submissions are due by April 24, 2026, by 5:00 pm. 

Please fill out the submission form and deliver your artwork to the Buffalo District Office at 726 Exchange Street, Suite 601. 

Please contact our Buffalo District Office directly at 716-852-3501 with any questions or if you are unable to fill out the electronic form. Thank you!

 

 

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.

If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, please click here.