Congressional Art Competition

The Office of Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition from high school students who live or attend school in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District. 

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. 

Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol. 

The deadline is April 1^st, 2026.

How to Participate: 

1. Check to see if you live or attend school in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District 

2. Make sure that your artwork complies with the  2026 Rules for Students and Teachers:

   Document

   2026-rules-and-regulations-for-students-and-teachers.pdf  (980.36 KB)

3. Complete the 2026 Student Release Form: 

   Document

   2026-student-release-form.pdf  (139.56 KB)
4. Participants must submit a digital copy of their artwork and student release form to Alijah Jamison and Yara Al Bayyari by email at Alijah.Jamison@mail.house.gov / Yara.AlBayyari@mail.house.gov by Wednesday, April 1st, 2026. Once a digital copy of the artwork and the student release form is received, we will schedule the drop-off of physical art pieces. 

Artwork must be two-dimensional.  Each framed artwork entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches (including the frame) with a depth of no more than 4 inches and a weight of up to 15 pounds. All artwork must be framed. The artwork may be:

• 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 

All entries must be original in concept, design and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. 

The winner will be eligible to receive: 

• Year-long exhibition of their artwork in the U.S. Capitol
• Complimentary airline tickets to Washington, D.C. to attend the reception and installation of the winning entries from congressional districts throughout the country
• A chance to win a scholarship 

The first and second runners-up will have their artwork displayed in my Washington, D.C. office and the two Honorable Mentions will be displayed in my district office for one year. 

For more information, contact Yara Al Bayyari by email at Yara.AlBayyari@mail.house.gov