Art Competition

Art is often the context that helps us understand who we are and where our common ground is. The theme for this year's competition is “Where the Water Reflects the Sky”: As Minnesota embraces a new state seal, we reflect on the state’s original Dakota Name: Mni Sóta Makoce – “where the water reflects the sky”. This year, I encourage students to dream up and understand how the history of this state shapes what we represent today.

Visual art competition is open to all high schoolers in Minnesota's Fifth District
Submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 11^th, 2025.
Votes will be conducted by the selected judges.
Winning submission will get two plane tickets to Washington, DC & have their work displayed in the US Capitol for one year.

Below are more details about the competition & how to submit your entry:

The competition is open to all high schoolers who live in Minnesota's Fifth District. If you're not sure if you live in the 5th District, you may look up your congressional district here. Once all the art pieces have been submitted, our office will hold a reception open to the public to view all the pieces. Representative Ilhan Omar will announce the winners.

Each piece must meet the requirements outlined by the national organizers – no larger than 26 inches by 26 inches by 4 inches deep, and no heavier than 15 pounds.

Accepted mediums for the artwork are as follows:

Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)
Prints: lithographs, silk screen, block prints
Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
Collages (must be two dimensional)
Computer-generated art
Photographs

Entries must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate any U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement) that was created by someone other than the student is a violation of the competition rules and will not be accepted. Work entered must be in the original medium (that is, not a scanned reproduction of a painting, drawing, etc.).

Pieces may be dropped off at the District Office: 310 E 38^th St, Suite 222, Minneapolis, MN 55409. Competitors must also submit a fully completed Student Release Form. We will verify the originality of the piece with the art teacher listed after pieces have been submitted. To receive the form and full rules, please contact Frances Blee at (612) 418-4738 or frances.blee@mail.house.gov. If we do not receive the work and the release form by this time, the piece will not be included in the competition.