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 28, 2026 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 2026 Visual Art Contest Terms & Conditions.

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 26, 2026 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 2026, as well as Freret Fest  2026 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 2026 Songwriting Contest Terms & Conditions.

SUBMIT YOUR ORIGINAL ART & SONGS HERE

2026 Art & Songwriting Contest Theme: Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow

Where light pierces the mist, shadows hold secrets. This year, Louisiana’s young artists and songwriters are invited to explore the interplay of light and shadow, inspired by the surreal paintings of George Rodrigue’s Bayou Collection, currently on view at the LSU Museum of Art through January 4, 2026. Delve into contrasts—light and dark, love and loss, hope and fear, joy and struggle—reflecting personal tales, cultural tensions, or historical truths, much like Rodrigue’s paintings reveal hidden narratives through stark light-dark contrasts.

Rodrigue’s early works, such as Watchdog and A Sea Chest of Secrets, use the glowing moon and twisted bayou landscapes to weave Louisiana’s myths into surreal visions. The Blue Dog emerges from shadow, a symbol of both guardian and ghost, inviting you to uncover what shines and what lingers in your own world. Just as George Rodrigue used light and shadow in his paintings to reveal hidden truths, students are challenged to use their creativity to uncover and express what shines brightly in your life, your community, or Louisiana—and what may linger in darkness.

Visual Artists

Draw from the Bayou Collection’s use of light and shadow to create depth and emotion. What do you reveal? What do you conceal? How can contrast—through color, texture, shape, or composition—express your idea?

Songwriters

Let the ethereal tones of Rodrigue’s landscapes guide your music. How can your lyrics or sound reflect light and shadow—whether through imagery, storytelling, or changes in tone, melody, or rhythm? Express contrast in your lyrics, imagery, or sound.

Let your art and songs illuminate what matters most—and embrace the shadows where stories dwell. Show us the dual soul of Louisiana through your creativity.

Watch Dog
1984
40 x 30 inches
Oil on canvas

A Sea Chest of Secrets (Pirate Jean Lafitte)
1984
40 x 30 inches
Oil on canvas

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