Upper Manhattan Teens Can Apply For National Art Competition: Rep

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — High school students from Upper Manhattan's Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood are being encouraged by their local representative in Congress to apply for a national arts competition.

High school artists who submit winning works to the annual Congressional Institute competition have the chance to see their works displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol building in Washington D.C., Congressman Adriano Espaillat said in a press release.

"High school students from my district are encouraged to submit entries to my office, and a panel of district artists will select the winning entries. Once selected, winners will be recognized both in my district and during an annual awards ceremony in Washington D.C.," Espaillat said in a statement.

Students who wish to participate in the competition must submit their works to Espaillat's office by Friday, April 24. Any artwork submitted by a student must be two-dimensional and use one of these mediums: Paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media, computer generated images and photography. Works can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide and four inches deep including the frame

There are also some topics that are off-limits to students. According to policies set by the House Office Building Commission, artworks cannot depict "subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature."

All students who wish to participate in the contest must also complete a release form.

The Congressional Institute launched its annual Artistic Discovery competition in 1982. In the nearly 40-year history of the competition, 650,000 high school students have participated.