2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Art Exhibition

An exhibition at Ashé Cultural Arts Center in New Orleans celebrating Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights Movement, and those working for peace and human understanding. The 2027 theme is The Drum Major Instinct: African Roots/American Fruits. Original two- and three-dimensional artwork is considered. Jurors and the Exhibition Council will determine first-, second-, and third-place awards; cash prizes may be awarded based on fundraising.

The Drum Major Instinct: African Roots/American Fruits

Apply through OnlineJuriedShows; log in and select Enter This Show. The application fee is $40 and non-refundable. The prospectus states an application deadline of November 17, 2026, with no applications accepted afterward; the aggregator instead lists November 1, 2026 at 12:00 AM PDT. Artwork should convey the exhibition theme and must have been created within the last five years (after 2021). Dimensions must measure greater than 12 inches on any side and not more than 48 inches wide. Only original artwork is accepted: no reproductions, republished work, or artist enhanced prints. All two-dimensional work must be traditionally framed and ready to hang with attached wire; gallery wraps require MLKEC Board permission. The artist or a designated representative must install three-dimensional artwork weighing more than 30 pounds. Submit up to three images. JPG images should be 300 dpi and 1500 pixels on the longest side, with each file no larger than 4 MB. Frames, mats, easels, etc. should not appear in image files. Art descriptions are required. The gallery may exclude artwork it deems unsuitable for display. The prospectus gives conflicting notification dates: November 23, 2026 in Important Dates and November 7, 2026 in Notification. There is a 30% commission on artwork sold during or resulting from the exhibition; the artist or representative receives 100% of the sale price, and buyers pay the commission plus sales tax. Jurors and the MLK Exhibition Council determine first-, second-, and third-place awards for works best depicting the theme; cash prizes may be awarded based on fundraising. Accepted artists are responsible for delivering or shipping their work. The Council pays return shipping for artwork that has to be delivered more than 50 miles from New Orleans. For local artists living within 50 miles of New Orleans, artwork not picked up within 14 days after the exhibition closes becomes the property of the New Orleans Martin Luther King Jr. Exhibition Council.