Each spring, a nationwide high school arts competition is sponsored by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in collaboration with the Congressional Institute. The competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Fifth Congressional District.
Congresswoman Jahana Hayes welcomes participation by high school students who attend schools or live in Connecticut’s Fifth Congressional District. The winning artwork of our district's competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, as part of an exhibit with winners from around the country. Second place artwork will be displayed in the Congresswoman’s Washington D.C. Office, third place will be displayed for one year at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, and fourth place will be displayed in the Congresswoman’s District Office.
The following is a summary of the Congressional Art Competition rules:
Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches, may be up to 4 inches in depth, and not 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.
- Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
- Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
- Collages - must be two dimensional
- Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
- Mixed Media - use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photography
All entries must be original in concept, design, and execution and must 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). A frame is not required for submission.
The Mattatuck Museum will accept submissions beginning Friday March 1, 2024 through Friday, March 29, 2024.
The deadline for submitting work to be considered for the 2024 Competition is Friday March 29, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.
All submissions will be on exhibit at the Mattatuck Museum from April 6, 2024 - May 5, 2024. Visitors will be welcome to visit the exhibition.
IMPORTANT! This year we are asking that individual artists submit no more than TWO pieces of artwork to the competition.
Please see below for the complete 2024 Rules and Regulations, Student Release Form, Mattatuck Drop Off/Pick Up Process, and Mattatuck Loan Receipt.
The Student Release Form and necessary information on the Mattatuck Loan Receipt MUST be completed by each student and sent along with the artwork.
- 2024 Rules and Regulations
- Student Release Form
- Mattatuck Museum Drop Off/Pick Up Process
- Mattatuck Museum Loan Receipt
If school staff or students have any questions regarding the process, please reach out to:
Office of Congresswoman Hayes: Ruchi Sheth at 860-223-8412