Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school art competition. The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in Oklahoma's First District. The overall winner from the Oklahoma's First District will have their artwork displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol and have the opportunity to attend the Winners Celebration in Washington, D.C. 

The 2026 theme is "250 Years of Freedom".

The submission deadline for the 2026 Oklahoma's First District Congressional Art Competition is April 23, 2026. All artwork must be dropped off at my District Office by 5 pm. All requirements listed below must be met for the artwork to qualify. For more information, please contact the Tulsa District Office at (918) 935-3222 and ask to speak with Charles Borsom.

The Rules and Release Form

Students will need to fill out a "Student Release Form" to be able to submit a piece of art, which can be found here.

Artwork must be two-dimensional. Each framed artwork can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, 4 inches deep, and 15 pounds. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive in Washington, DC, framed. Even when framed, it must still measure no larger than the maximum dimensions. Further information about the rules and regulations can be found here.

Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional 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.)
       • Collages: must be two dimensional
       • Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
       • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
       • Computer-generated art
       • Photographs

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate 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 or drawing). Further copyright and plagiarism rules can be found here, and more information on the competition, submission requirements, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.

Suitability Guidelines

Artwork must adhere to the policy of the House Office Building Commission (the Commission). In accordance with this policy, exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy, or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed. Each Member of Congress will be required to submit a Letter of Support confirming that the Member has determined that the winning artwork adheres to the Commission’s policy. However, if another Member of Congress requests review of any artwork for compliance with the Commission’s policy, the final decision regarding the artwork’s suitability for display will be made by the Commission. While it is not the intent to censor any artwork, we do wish to avoid artwork that is potentially inappropriate for display in this highly travelled area leading to the Capitol.