Year in Review: Looking Back at 2015

Looking Back at 2015


This past year, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts' programs have been marked by growth and success, while continuing the vision of artist George Rodrigue to advocate for youth through arts in education. We are proud to share that in 2015 GRFA:

Awarded $45,000 in College Scholarships

In April, GRFA awarded $45,000 in college scholarships to Louisiana high school juniors and seniors through our 2015 Art Contest. Since 2009, the Art Contest has awarded $283,000 in scholarships to talented Louisiana students.

Donated $50,000 in Art Supplies

The George's Art Closet program has donated over $50,000 in art supply kits to classrooms with little or no resources for visual arts supplies, allowing teachers and students the opportunity to engage in meaningful creative projects.

Nearly Doubled the Louisiana A+ Schools Program

Our Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) program continues to grow and transform schools through arts integration. Through our network of 16 LAA+ Schools, we provide professional development to over 600 educators, impacting 7,000 Louisiana students each day with curriculum infused with the arts.

Shared George Rodrigue's Legacy with Houston Students

From April to July, the Estate of George Rodrigue presented "Rodrige: Houston", a retrospective exhibition of the artist's work. GRFA provided free busses and field trips to over 800 Houston students, awarded $25,000 in art supply kits to Houston schools with little or no funding for visual art supplies, and hosted four free Community Art Days.

Brought the Aioli Dinner Supper Club to 5 Cities

This year we introduced the Aioli Dinner Supper Club, a special dining experience that celebrates George Rodrigue's iconic Aioli Dinner painting while raising funds for our Louisiana A+ Schools program. In 2015, Aioli Dinners were hosted in New Iberia, Monroe, Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Metairie. We look forward to continuing this unique, delicious dinner series in 2016!

With 2015 coming to a close, please consider a gift to the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts to ensure that our programs continue to thrive and impact the lives of Louisiana students. We count on the generosity of supporters like you to help us continue the mission of advocating for youth through the arts in education.

DONATE TODAY

We wish you a happy, healthy New Year!

7 Weeks Left to Enter 2016 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

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays from GRFA!

Pictured, The Rodrigue family with students from J. Wallace James Elementary School in Lafayette, LA, after a recent tree ornament activity.  Click here to read about Wendy Rodrigue's visit to this LAA+ School.

On behalf of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Louisiana A+ Schools, we wish you a happy and healthy Holiday Season! We are so thankful for your friendship and support this past year and look forward to sharing our mission with you in 2016.

Congrats to the 2015 Raffle Winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered the 2015 Raffle and supported GRFA's arts in education programs! The names below were drawn, and all winners have been contacted directly by email with instructions for claiming their prizes.

M. Brennan 

L. Gagliano

J. O'Malley

T. McDaniel

A. Pfanner

T. Fox

N. Cordill

J. Frosch

G. Sakowski

M. Niziol

T. Booth

J. McElwes

T. Skipworth

V. Titus

C. Aime

K. Melancon

Three Days Left to Enter the 2015 Raffle!

Have you entered our 2015 Raffle yet? We invite you to take a chance today to win great prizes while supporting the arts in education across Louisiana. The deadline to enter is Friday, December 18th at 5:00 PM.

The grand prize winner of the raffle will receive FIVE silkscreen prints by George Rodrigue. Each print in the set is signed and framed. There are also exciting prizes for 2nd - 15th place!

The Grand Prize winner will receive the above signed silkscreen prints by George Rodrigue. Click here to learn more about the prints and to see runner up prizes.

All proceeds from the raffle benefit the arts in education initiatives of GRFA, including providing $45,000 in college scholarships through our annual Art Contest, transforming schools through arts integration with Louisiana A+ Schools, and enhancing classroom creativity through George's Art Closet.

The Raffle closes Friday at 5:00 PM.

$10.00 per chance

ENTER TODAY!

Getting Creative With 2 Louisiana A+ Schools

GRFA Visits Louisiana A+ Schools in  New Orleans and Baton  Rouge


The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue visited two Louisiana A + Schools this week to read George Rodrigue's beloved children's books to students and share an ornament-making project inspired by the many colors of Rodrigue's Blue Dog series. Thank you to the students and teachers of Homer A. Plessy Community School in New Orleans and The Durfrocq School in Baton Rouge for welcoming us into your classrooms!

Homer A. Plessy Community School, New Orleans

The Dufrocq School,  Baton Rouge

The application period to become an arts-integrated, Louisiana A+ Schools is now open! Click here to learn more about joining our network of 16 schools across the state.

One Week Left to Enter 2015 Raffle

On December 18th at 5:00 PM, our 2015 Raffle will close and winners will be drawn for fantastic prizes, including a set of five signed and framed silkscreen prints by George Rodrigue. Funds raised through the raffle directly support our arts in education programs, which include an annual Scholarship Art Contest, George's Art Closet, and Louisiana A+ Schools.

Each chance is only $10! Enter today.

Click the image above to learn more about the many prizes you could win in the 2015 Raffle.

LAA+ Schools Announces Call for 2016 Applications

Calling All Louisiana Schools: Join the LAA+ Network in 2016

The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts is pleased to announce that Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) is now 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.

LEARN MORE ABOUT JOINING LAA+ SCHOOLS

Rodrigue Family Visits 2 LAA+ Schools

Executive Director Jacques Rodrigue and Wendy Rodrigue, widow of George Rodrigue, visited Ridge Elementary School and J. Wallace James Elementary School in the Lafayette area to see arts-integration in action in the classrooms. Both of these terrific schools are part of our network of 16 Louisiana A+ Schools across the state.

Wendy Rodrigue reads to children at J. Wallace James Elementary School. (Photo credit: Paul Lieu, The Advertiser)

Jacques Rodrigue gets creative with students during an ornament making project. (Photo credit: Paul Lieu, The Advertiser)

The family toured the schools, visited with students and teachers, and saw examples of how the arts are integrated into each subject. Wendy Rodrigue read George Rodrigue's "Are You Blue Dog's Friend?" and "Why Is Blue Dog Blue?" to students, and Jacques Rodrigue led them in a George Rodrigue-themed ornament activity inspired by his Blue Dog series.

Jacques and Wendy were also excited to announce the 2016 application period for LAA+ Schools and to share how a recent independent study by Centers for Research on Creativity proved that the A+ Schools method is transforming classrooms across Louisiana.

Read the full story of their visit to 

J. Wallace James Elementary School in 

The Advertiser.