“This contest provides a wonderful opportunity for our community to acknowledge our gifted young artists and to showcase the creativity of the talented students from the South and Central Coasts,” Capps said.

The Congressional High School Art Contest is an annual competition in which eligible high school students from across the country submit works of art to their Member of Congress.  The art must be original in concept, but can be in the form of a painting, drawing, collage, print, mixed media, computer generated, or photography. 

“This art competition not only allows local high school students to express their creativity, but is an important representation of the talents in our community,” said Capps.  “Each year it is thrilling for the winning students to have their art on display for all members of Congress and individuals visiting the Capitol to view.”

Artwork must be delivered to one of Congresswoman Capps’ Congressional district offices by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 29. The offices are located at 1216 State Street, Suite 403, Santa Barbara; 1411 Marsh Street, Suite 205, San Luis Obispo; and 141 South A Street, Suite 204, Oxnard.

A panel of judges will choose a finalist from each county.  These three pieces of art will then be taken to Santa Barbara where a panel of judges from the district will decide by May 20 which piece of art will travel to Washington to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

Last year, Cori Hemmah, a recent graduate of Dos Pueblos High School in Santa Barbara, was selected as the local winner of the 2004 Congressional High School Art Contest.  Hemmah’s work, a pen and ink drawing entitled “Scattered Tiles,” hangs in the U.S. Capitol, alongside art from each congressional district.