The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts has announced the 2026 Art & Songwriting Contest for Louisiana high school juniors and seniors, with college scholarships available for visual artists and songwriters.
The 2026 theme is “Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow.” Students are invited to submit original artwork or songs that respond to the theme. The use of artificial intelligence tools, filters, prompts, or generators is not permitted and will result in disqualification.
There is no grade point average requirement, and students are not required to plan to study art or music in college to be eligible. Students from public, private, charter, and home schools may apply.
In the visual art contest, judges will select 10 finalists, including five juniors and five seniors, to share $19,000 in scholarships. Entries are judged on concept and design, technical skill, and creativity, with each category accounting for one-third of the score. Following the scholarship awards luncheon on March 28, 2026, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, the winning works will tour across Louisiana.
In the songwriting contest, three finalists will share $6,000 in scholarships. Submissions are judged on structure and composition, melody, and lyrics. After the scholarship awards luncheon on March 26, 2026, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, the first-place winner will have the opportunity to perform at Shorty Fest in May 2026 and at Freret Fest 2026 in partnership with Loyola University’s College of Music and Media.
The theme draws inspiration from works in George Rodrigue’s Bayou Collection, which is on view at the LSU Museum of Art through Jan. 4, 2026. Students are encouraged to explore contrast and interpretation through their own experiences, communities, or Louisiana history.
The foundation reported that since the art contest began in 2010, more than $625,000 in college scholarships has been awarded through the program. The songwriting contest was added in 2020 in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation.
Winners of the 2025 songwriting contest were Annabeth Ellerman of Ouachita Christian School in Monroe, first place; John Zaffuto of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, second place; and Saige Berthelot of St. John High School in Plaquemine, third place.
Submission information, rules, and terms and conditions for both contests are available through the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.
