Each year I invite all high school students from all around the Fourth District of New Jersey to compete in the annual
Fourth District Congressional High School Art Competition (CAC), part of a nation-wide art venue sponsored by the 
Congressional Institute.

   Encouraged by art teachers and families or on their own, these ninth through twelfth graders must submit their original,
framed art in the hopes of being chosen for an honor that includes having their work displayed in the United States Capitol
Complex alongside other winning entries from across the nation for approximately one year.

     The latest information, including deadlines, on the 2024 show were posted below on Feb. 20, 2024. The 2024 venue was held at the
RWJBarnabas Community Medical Center from March 26 through May 3 in Toms River.  Final rules from the Congressional Institute
and Rep. Smith's accompanying supplemental rules are posted below. Unfortunately, competition is limited to framed art of a limited
size that can be hung on a wall. (See rules below for details.).

About the Show:

2024 Contest Rules and Forms
Please read both documents on competition rules:
Congressional Institute's 2024 Rules of Entry
NJ-04 2024 District Rules of Entry.

Other important documents:
2024 Congressional Institute student release form*
Listing form by high school for teachers** 
Congressional Institute's Helpful Checklist for Submissions
Guide to plagiarism

Am I in the Fourth Congressional District, which is comprised of 40 towns in Ocean and Monmouth County?

*Please submit via email the Student Release form with an attached jpeg high-resolution (for an online gallery) of the artwork
which includes in the jpeg file name, the student’s name, school and title of the piece by March 19, 2024.
Example of jpeg file name: Jane Doe Jackson High The Morning Sunrise in oil teacher Jack Miller.jpeg).
Email to nj04artcomp@mail.house.gov   

**Teachers, please submit the above Teacher's Student Participation form to my office by March 19, listing
each student that intends to participate in the competition. Students can be later added or removed prior to judging.

This year, the competition and exhibition was be held between Wednesday, March 27 through the first week of May. The judges,
each accomplished artists in their own right, review all submissions each year, and a Best-in-Show as well as runners-up designated
as First, Second, Third, Fourth and Honorable Mentions will be named.  (Click here to learn about the judges.) All of the works will be
on display at Community Medical Center through May during normal hospital visiting hours. Visitors are subject to the New Jersey
General State Visitation Guidelines for Hospitals. 

The winners were announced and congressional certificates presented by the hospital and Rep. Smith at a ceremony
and reception May 3.

For more information about the competition, including the 2025 competition, call Kate of Jeff at 732-504-0567 or email
questions to nj04artcomp@mail.house.gov


LATEST: Winners announced in the
2024 Competition & Exhibition:

Read Congressman Smith announces 2024 winning high school artists.
Visit Congressman Smith's 2024 High School Virtual Art Gallery here.
View the 2024 winners selected by judges here.

“Independence Day” in acrylic on Masonite by Monica Kirschenbaum from Wall High School won 2024 Best in Show.

2024 winners:

   Best in Show: “Independence Day” in acrylic on
Masonite by Monica Kirschenbaum from Wall High School;

   First Place Runner-up: “Saltwater Breeze” in colored
pencil by Abigail Buechler from Wall High School;

   Second Place Runner-up: “Inch by Inch” in scratch-
board by Johanna Bryan from Wall High School;

   Third Place Runner-up: “Self Portrait of 3-Year-Old Self”
in acrylic painted on wood by Mackenzie Brennan from
Manasquan High School;

   Fourth Place Runner-up: “What Lies Beneath” in acrylic
and oil paint with resin on wood by Marisa Amitie’ from
Wall High School;

   Honorable Mention: “Rick’s Last Project” in colored
pencil by Madison English from Lacey Township High
School;

   Honorable Mention: “Duke and Dutchess” in oil paint by
Jordan Bohrer from Jackson Liberty High School;

   Honorable Mention: “Evening Snack” in oil on Masonite
by Abigail Lee from Wall High School;

   Honorable Mention: “Cup of Sea” in photography by
Jackson Conlan from Lacey Township High School; and

   Honorable Mention: “Slow Day at the Comic Shop” in
pen and ink by Isabella Stivale from Point Pleasant Borough
High School.

The 2023 Competition:

Press release announcing the 2023 winners
Photos of all the winning art work
Virtual Gallery of all entries

New this year: I invited the art teachers of the high school students who entered the competition to exhibit their work
along with my judges:
Art Teachers Virtual Gallery
Judges Virtual Art Gallery

2023 top place "Best-in-Show" winner is Wall High School 11th- grader Cassidy Savage's entry "Queen Clover," done in oil on Masonite. Her art teacher is Jill Alexander.

2023 winners:

Best in Show (pictured): “Queen Clover” in oil on Masonite by Cassidy Savage
from Wall High School;

Second Place Runner-up: “Hiding in Plain Sight” in pen and ink by Sara
Nugent from Wall High School;

Third Place Runner-up: “Sage Advice” in colored pencil by Katie Cortese
from Wall High School;

Honorable Mention: “Fossil Feeling” in Conte crayon by Caiden Gilmartin
from Freehold Township High School;

Honorable Mention: “Height of Attention” in oil paint by Emma Kuster from
Manasquan High School;

Honorable Mention: “Brooklyn Brownstones” in chalk pastels by Lily
Ducharme from Manasquan High School; and

Honorable Mention: “Breakfast” in oil by Scarlett Scillia from Point Pleasant
Borough High School.

The 2022 Art Competition:
Click here to see entire Virtual Gallery
Click here to see top place winners