Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest

VISUAL ART CONTEST

All high school juniors and seniors in the state of Louisiana are eligible to apply. Contest judges will select 10 finalists (5 juniors/5 seniors) to share $19,000 in college scholarships. Following the Scholarship Awards Luncheon (Saturday March 22, 2025 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel), the winning entries will tour on exhibition across Louisiana.

Individual visual artworks are judged on the following criteria:

• Concept/Design: Does the artwork address the theme in a clear and inventive way?  (1/3 score)
• Technical Skill: Does the artwork show an understanding of visual art principles such as use of color, shading, light, and form?  (1/3 score)
• Creativity: Does the artwork showcase an original point of view? Does it provide a fresh perspective on the theme?  (1/3 score)

Please click here to view the 2025 Visual Art Contest Terms & Conditions.

SUBMIT YOUR ORIGINAL ARTWORK HERE

SONGWRITING CONTEST

All high school juniors and seniors in the state of Louisiana are eligible to apply. A selection of three finalists will share $6,000 in college scholarships. Following the Scholarship Awards Luncheon (Saturday March 22, 2025 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel) the first-place winner will have the opportunity to perform during the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Shorty Fest in May 2025, as well as Freret Fest in March 2025 in partnership with the Loyola University’s College of Music and Media.

Song submissions are judged on the following criteria:

• Structure and Composition: Does the song have clearly identifiable sections (verse, chorus, etc)? Is the song between 2-5 minutes? Does the song have a clear theme and cohesive structure? Does the music have an identifiable rhyme scheme or pattern? (1/3 score)
• Melody: Does the song have continuity and coherence in melody, as well as tone and style? Does the song offer something unique, different, and totally original? Does the music keep the listener interested and engaged?  (1/3 score)
• Lyrics: Are the lyrics creative and original? Do they inspire an emotional or visceral reaction from the listener? Do the music and lyrics fit together in a cohesive way?  (1/3 score)

Please click here to view the 2025 Songwriting Contest Terms & Conditions.

SUBMIT YOUR ORIGINAL SONG HERE

2025 Art & Songwriting Contest Theme - HOME.LAND. - Reflections on Louisiana Landscapes and the Meaning of Home Through Art & Song

This year we invite Louisiana high school students to explore and express what home means to them through the lens of the state's unique landscapes. Inspired by the iconic art of George Rodrigue, known for his deep connection to Louisiana's culture and scenery, this contest theme challenges students to reflect on their personal and collective sense of home.

Louisiana is a place where the land and its people are deeply intertwined. From the swamps and bayous, to the urban streets and historic homes, the landscapes of Louisiana tell a story of resilience, culture, and identity. This year students are encouraged to capture the essence of what home means to them, whether it’s a physical place, a feeling, a person, or a memory tied to the natural beauty and cultural richness of Louisiana.

Broken Limb, 1975
Rodrigue began his series on Oak Trees after witnessing the landscapes of other states as he drove to and from Los Angeles where he attended art school. He saw once he entered Louisiana, the land became flat, wet and dark as the massive oak trees blocked the sun. This made Louisiana uniquely different than all other states he had passed through. A recent graduate of art school, studying pop art, Rodrigue was inclined to paint the landscapes he saw with hard edges and a more abstract style. Rodrigue said he never ‘saw’ an oak tree, but noticed the shapes the light created as it passed through the branches.

Jacqueline, 2002
It was in 2002 that Rodrigue witnessed Hurricane Lili in Lafayette, Louisiana. Viewing firsthand the energy and power of these storms affected Rodrigue in a way he had never experienced. Suddenly the swirl, a signature motif that had appeared throughout his work, took on a new significance, telling a story of its own. The spiraling vortex that once enlivened his Landscapes and Blue Dog paintings grew to encompass the entire canvas as its sole subject.

In the spirit of George Rodrigue’s work, students are asked to create visual art that depicts their personal definition of “home”. We invite students to draw inspiration from their own lives as well as Louisiana's landscapes as they experience them. Students are encouraged to reflect on their personal connection to the land & culture, exploring themes of belonging, heritage, and the environment.

Students who choose the songwriting track should craft lyrics and melodies that evoke the spirit of Louisiana’s landscapes and what it means to call this place home. Whether it’s a ballad about the Mississippi River, a song inspired by the sounds of the bayou, or a piece that captures the heart of a small town, these songs and lyrics should resonate with the sense of place that defines Louisiana.

Aioli Dinner, 1971
Probably his most famous Cajun painting, the Aioli Dinner is George Rodrigue’s first painting with people, and took him six months to complete. It is based on the old Creole Gourmet Societies, in their heyday between 1890 and 1920 when they met each month on the lawn of a different plantation home in and around New Iberia, Louisiana. The figures in this painting all represent real people, including George Rodrigue’s grandfather Jean Courrege, and his uncle Emile.

Swamp Dogs Series I, 2001
In this series, George Rodrigue merges two of his most notable themes, Cajun landscapes and the Blue Dog, into one. Rodrigue used a combination of printing and photography on large sheets of metal, blending reality with imagination, and providing a unique perspective on the Louisiana landscape. This series also pays homage to two popular Cajun stories Rodrigue grew up hearing, the Loup Garou (Cajun werewolf) and feux follets (swamp gas).

George Rodrigue once said that if he wasn’t from Louisiana he probably wouldn’t have started painting in the first place. Rodrigue was deeply inspired by the land and culture surrounding him, providing a unique glimpse into the Cajun culture of Louisiana, while preserving what he felt was a dying heritage. He was inspired by the Oak trees and swamps in his hometown of New Iberia, and created lasting images which led to his initial success as an artist, and have since toured all around the globe. Students are encouraged to use the following themes and images as inspiration when creating their original works of art and song.

Special Announcement: Upcoming Documentary "Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue"

We are excited to share that a new documentary, "Blue: The Life and Art of George Rodrigue," just had its North American debut on October 21, 2024 during the New Orleans Film Festival, and is scheduled to be released across Louisiana in December. This film fully explores George Rodrigue's life, art, and the profound importance of his home state in shaping his work. As students participate in this contest, they are encouraged to reflect on how Rodrigue’s connection to his roots in Louisiana influenced his art, just as their own sense of home can inspire their creativity.

About the Art Contest

The Annual Scholarship Art Contest is a unique way for us to honor the legacy of George Rodrigue while celebrating the talent and creativity of Louisiana high school students. Since the first Art Contest in 2010, GRFA has awarded over $625,000 in college scholarships through this program, providing much-needed financial support for young people pursuing higher education.

This visual arts competition encourages individual participation in the arts and is open to all Louisiana high school juniors and seniors, regardless of grade point average or intended college major. Students from public, private, charter, and home schools are invited to enter.

In 2020, the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts, in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation, expanded its Annual Scholarship Art Contest to include a Scholarship Songwriting Contest, providing a platform for both visual artists and songwriters across Louisiana to showcase their work.

About the Trombone Shorty Foundation

 The Trombone Shorty Foundation’s mission is to inspire the next generation of musically talented opportunity youth through music education, instruction, mentorship, and performance. By honoring the New Orleans tradition of “playing it forward” from the earliest jazz legends onward, the foundation seeks to preserve and perpetuate the musical heritage of a city where music is everything. Experienced and professional teachers, tutors, and mentors support every student in the pursuit of a well-rounded understanding of New Orleans’ musical traditions, experience in music performance, reading, writing, and now, even business, and the social and academic skills they need to make noise wherever they go – in music and in life.

www.tromboneshortyfoundation.org