For the 34^th year, members of Congress foster a nationwide high school student visual arts competition, An Artistic Discovery. The annual event recognizes and encourages participation in the arts in each congressional district. Over the course of a few months, high school students residing in participating member districts have an opportunity to create and submit their artwork to be juried.

Since the competition began in 1982, over 650,000 high school students have participated. Members of Congress have found creative ways to support these aspiring students, including recognizing their art teachers with unexpected visits.

Almost every congressional office participates. Two members of Congress serve as co-chairs of the event, who rotate yearly. This year’s co-chairs are Reps. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) and Lois Frankel (D-FL). Winning entries hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year and are also featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ Congressional Art Competition page. Runner-ups are often hung in the members’ DC and district offices.

In the words of U.S. House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), “I believe that this competition is an excellent opportunity for young artists to not only be challenged locally, but to also be recognized for their talent, creativity and vision at the national level.”

The competition dates to efforts by then-Rep. Fred Richmond (D-NY), who proposed to then-Speaker of the House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill a program to encourage nationwide artistic creativity by high school students through art exhibits in the tunnels connecting the Capitol to the House Office Buildings. With a nod also to the pARTnership movement, Southwest Airlines sponsors flights to bring winners to DC to see their artwork hung during a reception on June 24, 2015. The event is administered by the Congressional Institute, a nonprofit organization.