Art Competition

Each spring, a nation-wide high school arts competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in our Congressional District. This year, Congressman Dan Meuser is looking for the best high school artists in Pennsylvania’s 9th District to share their artwork for a chance to have it displayed in the United States Capitol for one year. Our office is currently accepting submissions for the 2025 competition.

The competition is free for participants. The district-wide winner will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. Students’ artwork will be judged by a panel of art experts on their artistic ability, and creativity, and the artwork’s relation to and reflection of Pennsylvania. All high school students (grades 9-12) in the 9th Congressional District are invited to submit their artwork to one of my district offices before April 18, 2025. A Participant Reception will be held on April 24, 2025, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Walk in Art Center located at 220 Parkway, Schuylkill Haven PA 17972.

Information about the Congressional Art Competition
Rules and Regulations | Student Release Form

Artwork must be two-dimensional. Each framed artwork can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive in Washington, DC, framed. Even when framed, it must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions. No framed piece should weigh more than 15 pounds.

Accepted mediums 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.
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. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting, drawing, etc.).

Kaylee Meeker from the Northwest Area School District was the 9th District's 2024 winner, and her painting, Operation Desert Shield, featured here, currently hangs in the U.S. Capitol.

Artwork Drop-off Locations

121 Progress Ave Suite 110, Losch Plaza Pottsville, PA 17901
400 South 8th St. Municipal Building Lebanon, PA 17042
Market Street Plaza 1000 Market Street Suite 39 Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Executive Plaza 4th Floor 330 Pine Street Williamsport, PA 17701
511 Mile Road Tunkhannock, PA 18657
Hamburg Municipal Center 2nd floor 61 N 3rd St Hamburg, PA 19526

All entries must be submitted before April 18. Students may drop off their artwork submissions, Monday-Friday 10am-4pm.

Please contact Madison Colaco at (717) 603-1459 or Nicholas Mason at (570) 871-6370 with any questions.