2004 Congressional Arts Competition

2004 Congressional Arts Competition

I am excited to announce the 2004 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.

High school students (grades 9-12), from every Congressional district in the nation, compete for the opportunity to win a trip to Washington, D.C., where their work will be showcased at the United States Capitol, and most importantly, students are competing for one of three generous academic scholarships.

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 3rd 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 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

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 5 p.m. on Friday, April
2. 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 for approximately one month. 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.

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

A $12,000 scholarship ($3,000 for four year) 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. 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-TV7's, "WHIO Reports," on Sunday morning, May 2. All participants in the Congressional Arts Competition will be invited to join me to attend a formal reception, where they will be recognized and their efforts will be honored, at the Dayton Art Institute, on Sunday, May 2nd from 1-3 p.m.

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 maybe growing up in Ohio's third district right now and this contest is way to encourage them as well as help them with their education.