Annual Art Contest to Feature Online Voting

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced this week that he will host the annual Congressional Arts Competition Forum & Exhibit for the 29th District, featuring high school student artwork from the region, on April 15.

A number of La Cañada and La Crescenta students are participating, said Patrick Boland, Schiff's communications director.

The Congressional Art Competition is an annual contest, with submissions from across the country. The winner from each Congressional District has their work displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. In addition, Schiff is opening up the competition with a “People’s Choice” award, which will be decided through an online vote. 

“Every year, I receive amazing art from high school students across the 29th Congressional District, and this year, I decided to do something different,'' Schiff said in a prepared statement.

"Now, students, their families and other constituents from across our district will be able to weigh in, just like the panel of judges and pick the inaugural ‘People’s Choice’ winner,” said Schiff. 

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, more than 650,000 high school students have participated in the nationwide competition.

The first-place winner’s artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year, the piece awarded second place will hang in the congressman's Washington, D.C. office for one year, and the piece awarded third place will hang in his Pasadena district office for one year.

The “People’s Choice” winner’s artwork will also be displayed in Schiff’s Washington, D.C. office. To vote for the “People’s Choice,” constituents should go toSchiff’s website, (http://schiff.house.gov/congressional-arts-competition1). Voting will be open from April 2nd through April 12th.

The winners of the contest will be announced at the 29th Congressional High School Arts Competition Forum & Exhibit on April 15. All student participants will receive a Congressional Certificate of Recognition.

The exhibit will be held at Friends Hall at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens starting at 3:00 p.m.; the award presentation will take place at 5:00 p.m. In addition, the exhibit will feature music from the Los Angeles Children’s Orchestra, under the direction of Susan Pascale.