I am pleased to announce the beginning of the 2010 Congressional Art Competition. The annual competition was created in 1982 as a way to showcase the artistic talents of young people throughout the country. The goal of the contest is to support and promote the arts, and encourage artistic expression in our youth.
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by Congressman Michael Turner

I am pleased to announce the beginning of the 2010 Congressional Art Competition.  The annual competition was created in 1982 as a way to showcase the artistic talents of young people throughout the country.  The goal of the contest is to support and promote the arts, and encourage artistic expression in our youth. This contest will further develop creativity and original thought in our young people, skills that will prove invaluable as they move forward with their education and careers. 

We are fortunate to again have the Dayton Art Institute host the Third District Congressional Art Competition. Last year, the Dayton Art Institute celebrated its 90th anniversary.  The building is home to a collection of 26,000 pieces spanning 5,000 years of art history and is rated as “superb in quality” by the American Association of Museums.  As a nationally recognized museum, it is an honor for students to have their artwork displayed alongside the work of world renowned artists.  

Our annual Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students residing in Ohio’s Third Congressional District.  All qualified entries will be on view from Saturday, April 17th through Sunday, May 10th in the North and South Galleries of The Dayton Art Institute.  An independent panel of judges will select the winners. A special awards ceremony will take place and the grand prize winner and runners-up will be announced.  Each participant will be honored and presented with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. 

The first place winner will also win a trip to Washington, D.C. to attend a ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol, where their artwork will be on display with the work of Congressional contest winners across the nation. Hundreds of people will see the artwork each day.  Scholarships are awarded to the grand prize winner and runners-up. 

Area teachers will receive additional information regarding the 2010 Congressional Art Contest in the coming weeks.  Teachers must schedule an appointment with the Dayton Art Institute to drop off students’ submissions.  The drop-off dates are Monday, April 12, and Tuesday, April 13, 2010.   After the exhibition ends, teachers can pick up artwork between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11th.  Artwork cannot be taken down prior to the scheduled pick up date, therefore students should not submit artwork they will need for other purposes.

Each year, I am amazed by the artistic ability exhibited by our young people.  One of our nation’s future prominent artists may very well be growing up here in Ohio’s Third Congressional District.  This contest is a great opportunity to encourage that talent.  I look forward to seeing the artwork produced by our talented youth as we begin to collect the entries for the 2010 Congressional Art Competition.  

If you have any additional questions or are a home schooled student interested in participating, please contact Jim Knupp in my Dayton district office at (937) 225-2843.