Congressman Henry Cuellar today announced that students in the Texas 28th Congressional District will have the opportunity to participate in the 2009 Congressional Arts Contest, which offers high school artists the opportunity to achieve national recognition and display their artwork in the U.S. Capitol building.

Every year since 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has showcased exceptional student art from each of the 435 Congressional districts. One work of art selected by each Member of Congress is displayed in a gallery in the Cannon Tunnel, the passage that connects the U.S. Capitol with the Cannon House Office Building.  The gallery is a prominent attraction on Capitol tours, so the selected artwork will achieve national exposure.

Runners-up will be displayed in Congressman Cuellar’s offices in Laredo, San Antonio, and McAllen.

Congressman Cuellar said, "Each year, I take great pride in recognizing the creativity and unique talents of students throughout South Texas.  This is a tremendous opportunity for young Texas artists to have their work displayed in galleries at the U.S. Capitol and here at home.”

The competition is open to all high school students who attend school in the Texas 28th Congressional District.  Artwork must be submitted by April 3, 2009 and must be two-dimensional and no larger than 30 inches by 30 inches. Artwork categories include:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
• Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
• Collage: must be two dimensional
• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
• Mixed media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, etc.
• Computer generated art
• Photography

The winning artwork for the Texas 28th Congressional District will be chosen by a panel of art experts appointed by Congressman Cuellar’s office.  The winner will be announced in an official press release and invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony in Washington, D.C.