Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado Springs) today announced the beginning of the 2007 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to all high school students, grades 9 through 12, from the Fifth Congressional District of Colorado. The grand prize winner will have his or her piece displayed for a year in the U.S. Capitol Complex along with those of winners from Congressional offices around the country. The first, second, and third place artists will be recognized along with their families, friends and art teachers during a reception held on Friday, April 27, 2007 at Cottonwood Art Academy. All entrants will receive a certificate of participation signed by Congressman Lamborn. Each artist will have his/her work exhibited April 27, 2007 to April 29, 2007 at Cottonwood Art Academy.

“I am pleased to announce the Congressional Art Competition, said Rep. Lamborn. “ This event affords an opportunity for high school student artists to share their creative talents with our community and the thousands of visitors who come to our nation’s capitol each year. This years theme is properly entitled ‘Celebrating Art.”

The grand prize winning art work will be sent to Washington, DC to be exhibited in the U.S. Capitol along with other award winning art work from around the nation. Our grand prize winner will be invited to the official ribbon cutting celebration held in Washington, D.C. on June 28, 2007 and will receive a $5,000 scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design.

The grand prize winning pieces are displayed for one year in a walkway between the House office building and the U.S. Capitol and to be viewed by thousands of tourists and art lovers from around the world. Over the years, the collection has grown from less than 20 entries to well over 350.

Each high school in the 5^th Congressional District may submit up to five works of two-dimensional art created during the 2006-2007 school year. The art work can be no larger than 30 inches by 30 inches framed or unframed and not more than 4 inches deep. Only paintings, drawings, prints, and mixed media/collage will be accepted. See the attached entry sheet for more details. Please note that each student’s work will be hung for display. Therefore, we request that all work submitted be framed or have reinforced backing so as to be ready for hanging on the exhibition wall.

“I am very excited to see the artwork that the high school artists from the Fifth District will produce this year,” added Lamborn. “I have no doubt that the bright, young and talented art students in our district will be competitive at the national level.”

The Congressional Art Competition was created by Senator James Jeffords (VT) in 1982 while he was a member of the House of Representatives. Congressional offices across the nation initiate the Congressional Art Competition, an annual tradition since its introduction, in their own home districts.

Individuals interested in entering works into the competition should contact the Colorado Springs District office at (719) 520-0055 for more information.

###