Services

Congressional Art Competition

Each year, a nationwide student art competition is sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. 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 700,000 high school students have competed for the honor of having their work shown in the U.S. Capitol.

MAINE’S CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION

The competition in Maine is open to all high school students, and there is a winner, first runner up, second runner up and honorable mention chosen from each of Maine’s two congressional districts. The competition is co-hosted by the Maine Arts Commission and the offices of Representatives Chellie Pingree and Jared Golden.

In recent years, the Maine Arts Commission has worked in conjunction with the Maine College of Art and the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to select work for consideration for the Congressional Art Competition (CAC). Gold and silver winners from the Maine Regional Scholastic Art Awards are automatically submitted to be juried in February for the Congressional Art Competition. Winners as well as their families and art teachers are invited to a Blaine House Reception in May, and the First Place submission hangs in the U.S Capitol for one year along with student art from Congressional Districts across the nation. Learn more here.

Coming Soon: Submission information for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition