Art Competition

Each spring, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a nationwide high school arts competition. The Congressional Art Competition, which Congressman Deluzio is co-chairing in 2025, recognizes and encourages the artistic talent in the nation and in Western PA. 

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork is also featured on House.gov's Congressional Art Competition page. 

A panel of judges will select the winner from the submitted artwork. The top winning artwork from Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.   
 

Competition Rules  -  Informational flyer available here

The following mediums are welcome to the Congressional Art Competition: 

• Paintings - oil, acrylics, and watercolor 
• Drawings - pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (it is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.) 
• Collages - must be two dimensional 
• Prints - lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints 
• Mixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc. 
• Computer-generated art 
• Photography 

Artwork entered in the contest must be two dimensional and must neither exceed 26 inches wide by 26 inches long, 4 inches deep, nor 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. 

Since the winning art piece will be displayed in the Capitol for one year, students are advised to only submit work that they will not need for other purposes. Each student may submit one piece only.   

Entries must be original in concept, design and execution and may not violate any 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. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing). 

Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission. In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy, or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature, are not allowed. More rules listed here, as well as the release form. 

To Apply

Students can submit their artwork in person or as a JPEG clearly showing the entire work of art. 

Physical submissions and JPEG entries must be received by 5:00 p.m. on April 22, 2025. JPEG entries can be e-mailed to PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov by 5:00 p.m. on April 22, 2025.  Both physical and digital submissions must also include a copy of the Student Information and Release Form, which should be signed by the student, an art teacher and/or a parent/guardian as designated. 

Congressman Deluzio’s office asks that students submitting physical artwork drop off their work to the following locations, with a signed copy of the release form, by April 22nd:  

Beaver County office 
Address: 3468 Broadhead Road, Suite 1    
Monaca, PA 15061    
Office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.  

Carnegie office 
Address: 600 N. Bell Ave    
Building 1, Suite 102    
Carnegie, PA 15106    
Office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  

Penn Hills office (Tues and Thursdays only), 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Address: 77 Universal Rd, Ste, Penn Hills, PA  15235

If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, please email PA17ArtComp@mail.house.gov or call 724-206-4860. If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, please submit the following form.