The 2006 winners
of the 25th Annual Congressional Art Competition created the art
accessible here. The
artists are high school students.
The
Public Governance Institute facilitated the ribbon cutting
ceremony and celebration for the
winners on June 28, 2006 in the historic Cannon Caucus
Room. Appearing as special guests were acclaimed artist and
National Endowment
for the Arts grantee Vincent Desiderio, and Emmy-award
winning actor Joe Pantoliano, the co-president of The
Creative Coalition.
One Republican and one Democrat
Member of the U.S. House serve as co-chairs of the competition,
which is open to all high school students in all Congressional
Districts. Co-chairs for the 2006 competition were Representatives
Susan Davis (D-CA) and Heather Wilson (R-NM).
Senator James Jeffords (VT) created
the competition when he was a member of the House of Representatives.
Since that time, the collection has grown from less than 20 entries
to well over 350 today. Contests are held locally by Members of
Congress, and art by all first-place winners is displayed in a
walkway between the House office buildings and the U.S. Capitol.
The exhibit is a favorite point
of interest in the U.S. Capitol. The annual competition and celebration,
underwritten by General Motors, is one of the most popular events
in the U.S. House of Representatives.
See
the 2006 winners here.
See
the 2005 winners here.
