Rep. Tim Walz kicked off the 2018 Congressional Art Competition by inviting high school students from across Minnesota’s First District to submit their artwork for the contest, according to a press release.

“I am excited to welcome First District high schoolers to participate in the 2018 Congressional Art Competition,” Walz said. “The chance to see winning artwork from talented students all across the country is my favorite part of walking between meetings with constituents in my D.C. office and votes on the House floor.  I can’t wait to see this year’s art submissions from high school students across southern Minnesota.”

Beginning in 1982, the Congressional Art Competition has served as an opportunity for members of Congress to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each congressional district. Le Sueur-Henderson High School student Cassidy Hill won last year’s First District competition with her acrylic painting, titled “Blind Beauty.”

The first-place winner will have their artwork displayed in the Cannon Tunnel, leading to the U.S. Capitol, for an entire year. The art contest is free and open to students in grades nine through 12 who live in Minnesota’s First Congressional District or attend high school in the district.

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

To enter into this year’s Congressional Art Competition, submit a framed work of art along with the student information and release form to the Rochester or Mankato district office by March 23. The Rochester office is at 1202 1/2 Seventh Street NW, Suite 211, Rochester, MN 55901. The Mankato office is at 527 1/2 S. Front St., Mankato, MN 56001.

The submitted artwork will be displayed during the month of April in the downtown Rochester Skyway, just east of DoubleTree Hotel, also known as the “Art in the Sky” display. Professional artists will determine the winner of the competition, which will be announced April 16.