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 people working for peace, justice, and responsible environmental cohabitation. The 2027 theme is The Drum Major Instinct: African Roots/American Fruits. Original two- and three-dimensional artwork is considered, with sales and juried place awards; cash prizes may be awarded depending on fundraising.

The Drum Major Instinct: African Roots/American Fruits

Apply through OnlineJuriedShows; log in and select Enter This Show. The non-refundable application fee is $40. Submit up to three images, with required art descriptions. 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 framed using traditional standards and ready to hang with attached wire; gallery wraps require permission from the MLKEC Board. The artist or designated representative must install three-dimensional artwork weighing more than 30 pounds. The gallery may exclude artwork it deems unsuitable for display. Submission images must be JPG, 300 dpi, 1500 pixels on the longest side, and no larger than 4 MB each; frames, mats, easels, and similar items must not appear in the image. Accepted artists are responsible for delivering or shipping their artwork. The Council pays return shipping for artwork that has to be delivered more than 50 miles from New Orleans. Local artists living within 50 miles must collect artwork within 14 days after the exhibition closes, or it becomes Council property. Sales carry a 30% commission: the artist or representative receives 100% of the sale price, and buyers pay the commission plus sales tax. Jurors and the Council determine first-, second-, and third-place awards for works best depicting the theme; cash prizes may be awarded based on fundraising. 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. Notification dates also conflict within the prospectus: November 23, 2026 in Important Dates and November 7, 2026 in Notification. Confirm these discrepancies with the organizer at nolamlkexhibit@gmail.com.