2008 Congressional art competition kicks off

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) announced the opening of the 2008 Third Congressional District Art Competition for area high school students.

The district’s winning artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year along with other winning entries from across the nation.

The grand prize winner will also receive a renewable $5,000 annual scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design, and will be flown to Washington, D.C., on June 25 to attend the award ceremony.

South Lafourche High School graduate Morgan Smith won the Third District competition last year with a painting titled “Bringing the Music Back.”

“The Congressional Art Competition allows us to share the great talent and hope of our youth in south Louisiana with visitors to the U.S. Capitol,” Melancon said. “While I have truly enjoyed seeing Morgan’s great work displayed for the past year, I am excited for this year’s competition and the inspirational art our students will create. I encourage all high school students to consider submitting a piece of original work.”

Melancon’s district staff will host the final judging of the competition on April 26 at the Ascension Parish Library in Gonzales. A public viewing and awards presentation will follow from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Congressmen voluntarily sponsor the nationwide art competition. It is designed to give student artists an opportunity to showcase their work locally, and to be recognized at the national level.

The Congressional Arts Competition began in 1982. Since then, more than 650,000 students have participated in the competition and the works of thousands of young American artists have been showcased in a passageway to the Capitol.

Student artwork release forms and other instructions are available at www.melancon.house.gov via the “How Can I Help You?” link.