Lexington high school student artwork will be on display at U.S. Capitol throughout the year

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) congratulated Sheryl Zhang of Lexington, the 2012 winner for the 7th District of Massachusetts annual Congressional Art Competition. Every year the competition invites local high school students to submit their original artwork for a chance to represent the 7th Congressional District in Washington, D.C. The winning submission is chosen through a highly competitive process by an independent panel of local art experts and is displayed at the U.S. Capitol for a full year. Sheryl will travel to Washington D.C. in June for a reception honoring high school artists from congressional districts across the country. Rep. Markey is proud to participate in this effort to foster the growth of developing artists and will continue to support funding for arts programs for students across the 7th District and the country.

Earlier this spring, Rep. Markey also recognized the Lexington Symphony and Filmmakers Collaborative on recent grants totaling $55,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Lexington Symphony has been awarded $10,000 to support its innovative music education project for elementary school students, Orchestrating Kids Through Classics. Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit association of local independent documentary filmmakers, will receive a total of $45,000 to fund the production and release of two original films, Joe Papp in Five Acts and Fiddles on Fire.

“These organizations are part of the rich collective of local art centers that enrich our lives and celebrate our communities in Massachusetts and the 7th District,” said Rep. Markey, dean of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation. “I am proud of the district’s role as a leader in the innovation and creative industries. I will remain committed to supporting the arts and ensuring critical funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, which makes these grants possible.”
 
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965, and has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic development for individuals and communities. The NEA awarded more than 225 grants and over $7.3 million in arts education funding across the country as part of the Arts Endowment’s Learning in the Arts funding stream. Grants from the NEA generate, on average, six dollars from non-federal sources for each dollar awarded.

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