2005 Congressional Arts Competition

2005 Congressional Arts Competition
March 18, 2005

I am excited to announce the 2005 Congressional Arts competition for Ohio's 3rd district. The annual competition was created in 1982 as a way to showcase the artistic talents of young people throughout the country.

The Congressional Arts Competition is open to all 3rd district high school students (grades 9-12). Students are competing for one of three generous art academic scholarships. The winning student will also have the opportunity to attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C., this summer, where their work will be showcased in the Cannon Pedestrian Tunnel at the United States Capitol.

The Dayton Art Institute, Wright State University and many other institutions throughout Ohio's 3rd congressional district join me in supporting this worthy project. Our hope is that this competition will promote the arts and reward artistic expression among our youth.

The rules for participating are as follows:

- The competition is open to all high school students in Ohio's 3rd congressional district.
- Ohio third congressional district students may obtain entry forms from their high school art teachers.
- Parents of home-schooled students should contact my district offices to receive entry forms (phone number at the end of this column).
- Each student may submit one piece of two-dimensional artwork.
- Framed artwork must be no larger than 32 inches by 32 inches by 4 inches deep and may include:
- Paintings (oils, watercolors, acrylics, etc.)
- Drawings (pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, pastels, ink, markers, etc)
- Collages (must be two-dimensional)
- Prints (lithographs, silk screens, block prints)
- Mixed media
- The artwork must be matted in white or cream.
- Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws.
- Teachers may drop off all pieces of art at the Dayton Art Institute or any of our district offices by 6 p.m. on Friday, April 8. Teachers may also contact Jennifer Taylor at my district offices to arrange to have entries picked up. Our goal is to make entry as easy as possible.

The artworks entered will be hung at the Dayton Art Institute from April 16 - May 15, 2005. During this period, I encourage students to visit the Dayton Art Institute, with their family and friends, to see all the entries.

A panel of local artists and art teachers will select three winners and six honorable mentions.

There are three scholarship opportunities-applicable based on a student's financial needs:

- A $12,000 scholarship ($3,000 for four years) to Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia
- Up to a $10,000 art scholarship ($5,000 for two years) to Wright State University; based upon the students financial need.
- A $1,000 art scholarship to the Art Department at Sinclair Community College

The first place winner will also win a trip to Washington, D.C. They will have the opportunity to attend a ceremony at the Cannon House office building and the U.S. Capitol, where their artwork, as well as the winners from other congressional districts across the nation, will be on display for one year.

The winners will be named on the WHIO-TV-7's, "WHIO Reports," on Sunday morning, May 1. All participants in the Congressional Arts Competition will be invited to join me at a formal reception, where they will be recognized and their efforts will be honored, at the Dayton Art Institute's NCR Renaissance Auditorium, on Sunday, May 1st from 1-3 p.m. The event is open to the public and I encourage all area residents to come out and enjoy the artistic talents of this year's participants.

For additional information, please contact Jennifer Taylor in my district office at (937) 225-2843.

I eagerly look forward to seeing the many entries. This is a great opportunity to support the arts. One of the nation's future prominent artists may be growing up in Ohio's 3rd district right now, and this contest is way to encourage them as well as help them with their education.

http://www.house.gov/miketurner/news/columns/3.18.05.shtml