Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today announced the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District will be held at RWJBarnabas Community Medical Center in Toms River this spring.

            “Each year, the Congressional Art Competition provides a unique opportunity for communities to celebrate the talent and artistic gifts of local high school students,” said Rep. Smith, who hosts the annual contest for his congressional district.

             “My thanks to RWJBarnabas Health Community Medical Center for hosting this year’s competition and providing a high-visibility space to display the works of our student artists for all hospital visitors,” said Smith, who has previously held the show at Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center in Brick and Georgian Court University in Lakewood.

            The Chief Executive Officer at RWJBarnabas Health Community Medical Center welcomed the 2024 Congressional Art Competition to Toms River.

             “Community Medical Center is honored to host this year’s Annual Congressional Art Competition and Exhibition,” said Patrick Ahearn, Chief Executive Officer, Community Medical Center. “Hosting this great event gives us a new way of connecting with our community members, beyond our health education and outreach work. We thank Representative Chris Smith and his team for providing this unique opportunity to support and celebrate the artistic skills of local high school students. I know our hospital’s team, along with our patients and visitors, will greatly enjoy the exhibition.”

             Students who wish to participate in this year’s contest must register by Tuesday, March 19^th and submit their completed artwork by Tuesday, March 26^th at the hospital. For information about the 2024 Congressional Art Competition—including contest rules and entry forms—or to view winning pieces from previous competitions, click here.

             Artwork submitted by students will be on display at RWJBarnabas Community Medical Center beginning on Wednesday, March 27. Winners will be announced at a May ceremony at the hospital, and the Best in Show will be displayed in Washington, DC at the US Capitol Building for one year.

             Returning to judge the 2024 show are local professional artists Debbie Jencsik, Jim Inzero, and Rich Thompson. Click here for a summary of the judges’ biographies.

             Each year, the Congressional Institute sponsors the national high school visual art competition to recognize and foster artistic talent in each congressional district across America. More than 650,000 high school students have participated since the competition began in 1982.

The latest version of this release may be viewed at:

https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=411958

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