Feb. 16, 2017
WHO: The West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the Office of Secretary of Education and the Arts are sponsoring the Congressional Art Awards program and exhibit, preceded by a drawing workshop.
WHAT: Eight young West Virginia artists have been selected as winners in the statewide 2017 Congressional Art Competition. The students, in grades 9 through 12, were selected from more than 100 entrants who competed in this year’s competition. The three first-place winners’ art will represent West Virginia in a yearlong Congressional Art Competition exhibition at the United States Capitol Building in Washington. The competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress. These three students each receive a $100 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials. Five second-place winners’ art will receive $50 gift certificates from Dick Blick Art Materials.
There also will be a drawing workshop led by Sharon Mullens, artist, teacher and former director of exhibits at the Division of Culture and History. Cabinet Secretary Gayle Manchin of the Office of Secretary of Education and the Arts will make the awards presentations, and Fred Joseph, representing Congressman Alex Mooney and Michael Chirico, representing Congressman Evan Jenkins will deliver congressional messages. An exhibit opening in the Balcony Gallery will follow.
WHERE: The Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, Charleston.
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 17. The drawing workshop will be in the Great Hall of the Culture Center from 9 a.m. - noon. The awards presentations and congressional messages will be in the Great Hall at 1 p.m. The exhibit opening in the Balcony Gallery will immediately follow.
WHY: The annual exhibit is held to celebrate National Youth Art Month.
CONTACT: Charles Morris, director of museums for the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, at (304) 558-0220.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History is an agency within the Office of Secretary of Education and the Arts, Gayle Manchin, cabinet secretary. The division, led by Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith, brings together the past, present and future through programs and services focusing on archives and history, arts, historic preservation and museums. For more information about the division’s programs, events and sites, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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