Adobe Partners with Congressional Art Competition to Honor Creative Student Artists from Across the Country

Posted by Mark Rupert, senior director, Adobe Education

For the fifth consecutive year, Adobe is proud to sponsor the Congressional Art Competition, an event that gives high school students across the country the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the halls of the U.S. Capitol building. Yesterday, I had the honor of speaking to the honorees at a ceremony on Capitol Hill. It was a privilege to meet these young talented artists and to make the case to members of Congress for why it is so important to invest in STEAM programs – Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math – that will foster the next generation of creative leaders.

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Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 students have submitted their original artwork to be considered for display. Submissions span an impressive array of artistic mediums – from drawings and paintings, to prints and graphics. In recent years, it has been amazing to see more and more digital works of art being submitted, reflecting the growing importance of software and technology and how it helps people express themselves.

Adobe believes that creativity is essential for students, teachers and schools, so we were honored to participate in the recognition program to help celebrate these students’ creativity and their artistic achievements. To further inspire self-expression and innovation, Adobe provided each winner a free year-long subscription to Creative Cloud. This membership will provide them with unlimited access to the very latest versions of Adobe’s professional creative desktop applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and more – plus all new features and upgrades as they become available. Access to these tools will foster their creativity and artistic expression in new, exciting ways.

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As we look to the next generation of leaders, creativity is an essential quality that drives innovation. A key emphasis of the Congressional Art Competition is that creativity is a trait not limited to those in STEAM fields such as engineering and programming. Likewise, creativity is not possessed only by those in the art world. Rather, the two concepts are increasingly interconnected: artists and creative professionals provide meaning, communicate ideas, and help us all see new solutions to persisting issues. To succeed, we must invest both in STEAM and the arts in order to grow our economy and remain competitive as a nation.

Adobe believes that students who express ideas and solve problems creatively are destined to be the most successful in an increasingly interactive and design-oriented global marketplace. They are on the road to a bright future and Adobe wishes all of them the best.