Press Releases

Each year, members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a nationwide high school art competition. The Congressional Art Competition, which began in 1982, serves as an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in congressional districts across the country. 

The 2014 competition was open to all high school students in the Third District, and on April 23, 2014, the top five finalists were selected by a panel judges from the Third District community, including Manuela Well-Off-Man, Assistant Curator at Crystal Bridges Museum, Dayton Castleman, Museum Manager at 21cMuseum, and Lee Ortega, Executive Director of Fort Smith Regional Art Museum. 

Raiden Mayo, a junior at Siloam Springs High School, won first place, and his piece, “Curiosity,” will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.  

Today, Raiden joined Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) to attend the Congressional Art Competition’s annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., where Raiden was recognized as the Third District of Arkansas’s winner.  Congressman Womack released the following statement to welcome and congratulate Raiden on this achievement:

“Congratulations to Raiden, an undeniably talented and impressive young artist!  I am proud to have ‘Curiosity’ represent Arkansas’s Third District in Washington, D.C., and very much look forward to passing it as I walk to Capitol every day.  Thank you to Raiden and to all of the extraordinarily-skilled students who participated in this year’s competition.”

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