NEW ORLEANS – The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA), in partnership with the Trombone Shorty Foundation, announced the theme for the 2026 Annual Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest – “Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow.”
Louisiana high school juniors and seniors are encouraged to explore and express what home means to them through the lens of the state’s unique landscapes and experiences. The 2026 contest winners will share $25,000 in college scholarships – in addition, visual art winners’ pieces will tour on exhibition across Louisiana (Summer + Fall 2026), while the first-place songwriting winner will have the opportunity to perform at the Trombone Shorty Foundation’s annual fundraiser, Shorty Fest, next May.
GRFA is once again partnering with the Loyola University’s College of Music and Media to provide additional opportunities for Songwriting Contest Finalists. These benefits include: the opportunity to record their song in Loyola’s state-of-the-art Studio A, alongside in-house engineers and producers; the opportunity to have their original song distributed through various Digital Service Providers (DSPs); and, the opportunity to perform live at Freret Fest 2026.
Deadline for entry submission is Friday Jan. 23, 2026.
To date, GRFA has received over 7,500 applications to the Annual Scholarship Art & Songwriting Contest, and has awarded over $655,000 in college scholarship to over 270 students across Louisiana.
“Dad felt the bayou’s light and shadow shaped every stroke of his brush,” said Jacques Rodrigue, Executive Director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “This year’s contest theme, ‘Unveiling the Bayou: Light and Shadow,’ invites Louisiana’s young artists and songwriters to explore the same contrasts that defined Dad’s work, as seen in the LSU Museum of Art’s Bayou Collection exhibit through January 4, 2026. We encourage students to draw from their own roots and experiences, letting the interplay of light and shadow reveal their unique stories, just as Dad’s Blue Dog emerged from the heart of Louisiana’s mysteries.”
“We are honored to continue supporting this special competition for Louisiana students,” says Trombone Shorty Foundation Founding Executive Director Bill Taylor. “Witnessing how these young people reflect on their cultural heritage to create music, lyrics, and art year after year has been truly inspiring!”
For full contest details, submission criteria and more information on GRFA’s 2026 Scholarship Art & Songwriting contest, please visit www.rodriguefoundation.org.