19 Days Left to Enter Scholarship Art Contest

Do you know a creative Louisiana high school junior or senior? Encourage them to enter for a chance to win a college scholarship!

The deadline to enter the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' 2016 Scholarship Art Contest is February 12, 2016. The contest is open to all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors who wish to submit an original work of art for the theme "Louisiana Celebrates Carnival." The 2016 Art Contest is in partnership with the Krewe of Orpheus, one of the most dazzling Carnival parades in New Orleans.

Fifteen student finalists will share $45,000 in college scholarships! The overall winner will have their artwork turned into the official 2017 poster for the Krewe of Orpheus and be invited to ride in their 2017 parade!

Learn More

Kendra Scott Makes Jewelry With LAA+ Students

Kendra Scott with 3rd grade students at Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans. (Photo by Frank Aymami)

On Thursday, January 14th, the 3rd grade students at Homer A. Plessy Community School had quite a treat. Jewelry designer Kendra Scott, who recently opened a retail location on Magazine Street, stopped by to share the art of jewelry making with students at this New Orleans Louisiana A+ School.

Watch WGNO's coverage of Kendra's visit!

Top left, the Kendra Scott team. Right, Kendra and the students were all smiles. Bottom left, a student shares her necklace design. (Photos by Frank Aymami)

After developing their individual designs, students worked with the Kendra Scott team to build their unique pieces. Artist Mallory Page, whose artwork inspired Kendra Scott's Spring 2016 Collection, was there to share the design experience with the students. Page is the daughter-in-law of George Rodrigue and works to continue his legacy of arts education as a board member for GRFA.

Top left, students work with the Kendra Scott team to complete their designs. Top right, a student shares his completed necklace. Bottom, Mallory Page admires a finished bracelet design. (Photos by Frank Aymami)

In addition to this special visit, Kendra Scott and Mallory Page hosted a fundraising event that evening at her New Orleans jewelry store. Kendra generously donated a portion of proceeds from jewelry sales to GRFA's arts-in-education programs.

(Left to Right) National Art Education Association Executive Director Deborah Reeve, Kendra Scott, artist Mallory Page, and GRFA Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue (Photo by Frank Aymami)

Thank you to Kendra Scott and her team for bringing fun and creativity to students at Homer A. Plessy Community School and for championing the arts in education through their philanthropy!

Applications Due Friday to Join 2016 LAA+ Schools

Applications Due Friday to Join 2016 LAA+ Schools

Through Friday, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) program is accepting applications for the 2016/2017 academic year. LAA+ is a network that provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula in ways that nurture the whole student. At the center of this program is the use of the arts in every subject, in every classroom.

Louisiana A+ Schools values the arts as essential to the learning process. Click here to learn more.

Joining the A+ Network requires a significant time and resource commitment from a school's entire staff. We anticipate adding 3-10 schools for the 2016/2017 school year.

The deadline to submit an application of interest is Friday, January 15, 2016.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINING LAA+ SCHOOLS

LAA+ Evaluation Released

During the 2014/2015 academic year, Dr. James Catterall of the Centers for Research on Creativity (CRoC) in Los Angeles, California, directed a research team to study three high poverty and failing first-year Louisiana A+ Schools.

During the year, Dr. Catterall's team conducted a total of 50 classroom observations in 20 classrooms across all three schools, led numerous teacher focus groups, interviewed principals, and surveyed LAA+ staff and trainers. Their study confirmed that with arts integration:

• School climate and student engagement improved
• Students were given opportunities to grow as critical thinkers and artists
• Parental involvement increased

Click here to see more exciting results from this study and to learn how arts integration is transforming schools in Louisiana.