Next Week: Baton Rouge & Shreveport Aioli Dinners

Tickets are going fast for next week's Baton Rouge and Shreveport Aioli Dinner Supper Club events. Don't miss out on these special dining experiences inspired by George Rodrigue's iconic "Aioli Dinner" painting.

May 4,2016

Baton Rouge

Hosted by Randy K. Haynie

May 7, 2016

Shreveport

Frierson Plantation

Each dinner features a wine-paired, four-course meal and supports GRFA's dynamic arts in education programs. Watch the video below to learn more!

Purchase Tickets

Art Contest Winners Share $45,250

On Saturday, April 16th, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts awarded $45,250 in college scholarships to 16 talented Louisiana students. Finalists in the 2016 Art Contest represent cities across the state including Jefferson, Marrero, Gretna, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, DeRidder, Zachary, and Lafayette.

At the Awards Luncheon in New Orleans, these talented juniors and seniors accepted their scholarships, had their original artwork on display, and were treated to special presentation by author Wendy Rodrigue.

Congratulations to our 2016 Art Contest winners!

Junior and senior scholarship winners with Jacques Rodrigue at the Art Contest Luncheon in New Orleans.

Kourtney Aultman, our 1st place senior, was awarded a $6,000 scholarship.

Nathan Vogel placed first for the juniors.

Click here to view a photo album from the Luncheon and see the complete list of the scholarship winners in the 2016 Art Contest.

Students Have Field Trip of a Lifetime

Students Have Field Trip of a Lifetime

In partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, GRFA sent 60 fourth grade students and faculty members from Louisiana A+ School Homer Elementary School on a field trip of a lifetime.

On the way to the museum, students visited the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, AR, for the Student Presidential Tour. Activities included an orientation film, a tour of the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, Life in the White House, and the current temporary exhibit. 

(Top) Students from Homer Elementary School explore the galleries at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. (Bottom) Having fun while experiencing outdoor sculptures!

Through writing, discussion, and sketching, students analyzed sculptural works at Crystal Bridges to gain a deeper appreciation of three-dimentional art. They also had the opportunity to explore the museum's trails and enjoy outdoor artworks.

They then visited the Amazeum where their skilled education team actively interacted with students and chaperones to inspire curiosity and discoveries. On their trip back to Homer, LA, participants stopped in Little Rock and experienced the extremes of science with liquid nitrogen and vortex cannon demonstrations at the Arkansas Museum of Discovery.

Exploring Art at French Quarter Fest

What a beautiful weekend for French Quarter Festival! With a record attendance of over 750,000 people, many families made their way to the Chevron STEAM Zone to participate in hands-on projects that brought together science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

GRFA's team worked with children to create a "Life Cycle of an Oak Tree" and shared examples of the oak tree in the art of George Rodrigue.

We were so excited to partner with Chevron once again for this action-packed weekend!

(Top left) A young artist shares her completed "Life Cycle of an Oak Tree" project. (Top right) Hundreds of children and their parents visited GRFA at the Chevron STEAM Zone. (Bottom) GRFA's French Quarter Fest team included dedicated educators from our Louisiana A+ Schools program.

French Quarter Fest This Weekend

Saturday and Sunday: Join Us at French Quarter Fest



The weather will be beautiful this weekend for the 2016 French Quarter Festival in New Orleans! Once again, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts will be providing a hands-on art activity for families at the Chevron STEAM Zone. STEAM education brings together science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue gets creative with students while making STEAM art projects at last year's French Quarter Festival.

Who
The Chevron STEAM Zone is free, and all are welcome! The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts will be joined by The Nature Conservancy, Project Lead the Way, Audubon Nature Institute, Note for Notes, the New Orleans Pelicans, and New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park.

What
GRFA's creative project will be exploring the life cycle of the Louisiana oak tree.

Where
The Natchez Wharf in the French Quarter, where Toulouse Street meets the Mississippi River.

When
Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

We hope to see you at the 2016 French Quarter Festival!

Celebrities Judge Art Contest

For the past two weeks, local celebrities and community leaders have been visiting the GRFA office to serve as final round judges for the 2016 Scholarship Art Contest. This year's contest theme, in partnership with the Krewe of Orpheus, is "Louisiana Celebrates Carnival."

We are so grateful to these individuals sharing their time, expertise, and enthusiasm -- and for supporting our mission to advocate for youth through arts in education!

Final Round Judges Include:

Laura Ashley, Jones Walker Law Firm

Chef John Besh, Besh Restaurant Group

Sonny Borey, Krewe of Orpheus

Susan Brennan, Second Line Stages

Nadine Blake, Nadine Blake New Orleans

Simon Blake, Nadine Blake New Orleans

Michelle M. Carolla, New Orleans Auction Galleries

Martine Chaisson, Martine Chassion Gallery

Marilyn Dittman, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Clancy Dubos, Gambit Weekly

Margo Dubos, Gambit Weekly

Tricia Dubroc, Louisiana Public Facilities Authority

Derek Franklin, Krewe of Orpheus

Dathel Georges, The Advocate

David Harouni, Harouni Gallery

Jessie Haynes, The Helis Foundation

Jane Scott Hodges, Leontine Linens

Ben Jaffe, Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Jelena James, New Orleans Auction Galleries

Ashley Longshore, Ashley Longshore Gallery

Paul Leaman, New Orleans Silversmiths

Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

Renee Maxwell, Krewe of Orpheus, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel

James Michalopoulos, Michalopoulos Gallery

Barbara Motley, Louisiana State Arts Council

Biff Motley, Motley & Associates, Inc.

Terrance Osborne, Terrance Osborne Art

Alexa Pulitzer, Alexa Pulitzer LLC

Miranda Restovic, Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities

Robyn Dunn Schwarz, Matthew Clayton Brown

Michael Smith, Ashley Longshore Gallery

Gary Solomon, Jr., The Solomon Group

Artist Terrance Osborne scores original pieces made by Louisiana high school juniors.

Chef John Besh stopped by to participate as a final round judge.

Members of the Krewe of Orpheus look at pieces made by high school seniors.

Ben Jaffe of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band judges the 2016 Art Contest at GRFA's office.

Winners of the contest will be announced on April 16th at the Scholarship Awards Luncheon in New Orleans! The sixteen student finalists will share $45,000 in college scholarships.

Tickets to the luncheon are now available to the public.

Click here to view the 2016 Finalists