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Riverfest is an annual community festival held along the Ouachita River in Monroe, Louisiana. The event celebrates local culture, music, and river heritage, drawing residents and visitors to downtown Monroe’s riverfront for family-friendly entertainment, food, and live performances.
Friday, April 24, 6:00 – 9:00 pm CST Masur Museum of Art, 1400 South Grand Street Join us for the 17th Annual Off the Wall fundraiser at the Masur Museum of Art!! OTW is the area’s premier art auction featuring an excellent selection of art by artists in our community and from around the country. The party includes an expanded bar and delicious food, both of which pair nicely with live music! Please join us for the best party in the Twin Cities! Proceeds from Off the Wall support exhibitions and educational programs at the Masur Museum of Art. As the largest visual arts museum in northeast Louisiana, the Masur Museum of Art is vital to providing quality visual art experiences to the community of Northeast Louisiana. This is accomplished through temporary exhibitions, educational programs for all ages, and the management of a permanent collection.
We will explore the art of collage, surrealism and self-portraiture. Students will learn about collage and different techniques of cutting and creating shapes, forms and details, while thinking about their own unique traits of individuality through the lens of surrealism. Students will each create and take home their 18 x 24" self-portrait. All materials will be provided, but students may bring photos, papers, etc. from home if they wish to further enhance their creative process.
School Performances: May 6th and 7th at 9:30 and 11:45 AM Public Performances: Apr 26th at 2 and 7 PM Apr 27th at 3 PM May 2nd at 2 and 7 PM May 3rd at 3 PM
Morehouse May Madness Festival is a free, family-oriented street festival held annually in historic downtown Bastrop, Louisiana, celebrating Morehouse Parish and its community. It features live music, art, classic vehicles, food, and activities centered around the Morehouse Parish Courthouse square.
✨ Save the date ✨ BLEND 2026 is coming. Good food. Good pours. Good times. 📅 May 3, 2026 More details soon - trust us, you’ll want to be there.
Voting is now open for the 40th Annual Northeast Louisiana Arts Awards - and time is limited. After nominations from across Region 8, finalists have been selected in categories recognizing artists, educators, volunteers, businesses, and community leaders who are shaping the cultural landscape of Northeast Louisiana. For the first time, award recipients will be determined through public voting - and your vote matters. 🗳 Cast your vote across categories including: Arts Educator • Higher Education Arts Educator • Visual Artist • Performing Artist • Emerging Artist • Literary Artist • Community Arts Impact • BART Award • Volunteer of the Year 📍 All finalists live, work, or serve in Region 8 ⏰ Voting closes: May 6 at 11:59 PM (No late votes will be accepted.) 🏆 Winners will be announced at the Arts Awards celebration on June 25, 2026 at the Strauss Theatre Center. 👉 Vote now: https://nelaarts.org/nela-arts-events/arts-awards.html The Arts Awards belong to this region - and this year, the region gets to decide.
Award-winning musician Josh Madden will perform at the “Northern Lights: a Night of Wonder” Gala benefit for the Union Museum of History and Art on Thursday, May 7. Joining Madden will be side man guitarist Keith Patterson (aka General Patterson). The event will be held in That Place Downtown, 207 N. Main Street, Farmerville, from 6 to 9 p.m. and will include catered dinner and complimentary wine. Tickets are $50 each or $375 for table for eight. Tickets may be purchased by calling 318-982-8020 or emailing Unionmuseum@gmail.com. Madden is a prominent vocalist, writer, director, and multi-instrumentalist, well known in the Monroe area music scene for more than 20 years. He was named Best Music Teacher/Band Director and has been nominated twice for Best Male Performer and Entertainer of the Year by the NELA Music Awards. One of Madden’s specialties is tribute performances, bringing to audiences the music of such greats as Elton John, Van Morrison, the Beatles, Billy Joel, and The Blues Brothers. He also heads the Josh Madden Band and has a nonprofit production company that stages musical performances for Northeast Louisiana audiences. Sponsors of the "Northern Lights: A Night of Wonder" Gala are Judge Bruce Hampton and Union General Hospital. Proceeds of the event will support the Union Museum’s mission of bringing history to life and reveling in the arts through community events, educational programs, documentaries and exhibits.
The Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana's 10th Annual Empty Bowls event will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Monroe Civic Center Arena. Enjoy a tasting from local restaurants, live music, a silent auction and more! All proceeds benefit the Food Bank's hunger relief efforts in Northeast Louisiana. Tickets Available Now! A limited number of VIP tickets will be available this year, with 30 minute early entry for first choice of bowls! Get your tickets before they sell out at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/empty-bowls-northeast-louisiana-2026-tickets-1980190542217
The Downtown Gallery Crawl is a recurring arts festival held in the twin cities of Monroe and West Monroe, Louisiana. It features local artists, galleries, and cultural venues opening their doors for an evening of art exhibitions, live music, and community engagement. The event highlights the growing regional arts scene and revitalizes the historic downtown districts. It takes place on the first Thursday of every February, April, June, August, October & December.
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Visit our FAQsType of Opportunity | Discipline | Description | Organized by | Actions | |||||
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| Call for Artists - Poster Contest - 2026 Sugarland Music & Arts Festival | Publication Opportunity | CollageConceptualDesignShow 13 disciplines | 6/2/2026 | Free | $250 | AcadianaBaton RougeBayou RegionCentral LANew OrleansSW LouisianaLA NorthshoreNW LouisianaNE Louisiana | Download the application housed at https://www.sugarlandfest.org/poster and complete and return with your submission.
2026 contest winner will rece … See More | Assumption Foundation for the Arts | Apply |
| Call to Artist: Lasting Impressions | Call to Artists | Printmaking | 6/27/2026 | $15 | — | United StatesWest ValleyArizona | The Arts HQ Gallery is seeking print artists for an upcoming Lasting Impressions exhibit at the Arts HQ Gallery in Surprise. The exhibit will run Jul … See More | West Valley Arts Council | Apply |
| Ameritrust Project- Top 10 Pioneers in the Auto Industry | Call to Artists | CalligraphyCeramicsCollageShow 45 disciplines | 5/8/2026 | Free | — | United StatesTexas | Ameritrust is looking for artists that can give quotes on doing a project. The topic is on the top 10 pioneers in the auto industry. Please send one … See More | Arts Fort Worth | Apply |
| BASIC SKELETAL ANATOMY DRAWING FOR ARTISTS | Call to Artists | Fine ArtStill LifeTraditional ArtsShow 1 disciplines | 4/19/2026 | $50 | — | United States | BASIC SKELETAL ANATOMY FOR ARTISTS
Instructor: Derek Leka
Who: Hamden Art League
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Brook … See More | Hamden Art League | Apply |
| Hamden Art League Call for Artists | Call to Artists | PaintingCollageFiber ArtShow 2 disciplines | 5/15/2026 | Free | — | United States | The Eli Whitney Barn Show returns for the 4th year May 28th - 31st . The Barn is a unique setting to show paintings and sculptures and we look forw … See More | Hamden Art League | Apply |
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Visit our FAQsThe goal of Legacy Strings is to provide live string music for any occasion throughout Northeast Louisiana. Maxwell and Therese recognized a need for this type of musical offering after noticing a rise in number of wedding and event spaces across our community. In today’s digital age people frequently choose to have music playing over a PA or speaker system for their event. You can see and hear almost any band, artist, Symphony, and other ensembles with the simple click of a mousepad. In the post COVID world, more and more people are choosing live music options again. Live music is trending! We play a wide variety of music; everything from Bach to Beyonce. Rock and Pop music that has been arranged to sound classical is very popular right now thanks to the “Bridgerton” series. Contemporary Worship songs are also frequent requests. If a song is requested and we do not have it in our music library, we will work our hardest to find it or have it specially arranged for the occasion. Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z; all three generations are represented in Legacy Strings. We feel that this is something that makes our group unique as well as enjoyable. Our Legacy Strings members are: Therese Pirkey, age 37 – 1st violin – Wife and Mother, Therese is currently in Occupational Therapy school at the University of Louisiana at Monroe Maxwell Hyde, age 26- 2nd violin - Instructor and Greenhouse Laboratory Supervisor at Louisiana Tech University Sarah Bell , age 47- viola – former Orchestra Director who moved to Monroe LA from Columbia SC in May of 2025 Natalie Tellifero, age 36 – cello – Former Youth Minister who is currently an Orchestra Director with Monroe City Schools. Bass is her primary instrument.
Museum featuring exhibits, events, classes, documentaries, and community gatherings
The mission of the Union Museum of History and Art is to promote an understanding of history, culture, and art, and to instill a spirit of community pride. We're all about connections. Connections with each other...with the past...with beloved traditions... with dreams of the future. Our aim is to bring history to life, to revel in the arts, and showcase the many facets of our region.
Dynamic Demoiselle Creatives is a multidisciplinary designer with 7+ years of experience in graphic design and branding. She also is UX Design certified. Her creative journey began customizing MySpace profiles with HTML and evolved into designing visuals, book covers, and digital content. With a clean, storytelling-focused style, she helps small businesses in healing arts and others bring their ideas to life through thoughtful, expressive design.
Friends group for Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
We support Black Bayou Lake NWR and by extension the entire national wildlife refuge system.
Current president North Central Louisiana Arts Council. Accidental business process consultant. Deal artiste.
Choices Mentoring is a liaison to the community.
To provide pathways to purpose for youth and returning citizens through the arts, mentorship, skill-building, and community engagement—creating safer neighborhoods and stronger futures across Monroe.
“Being an artist has never been an option for me. Creating has always been essential to my existence.” I am a teacher to others and always a life long learner to myself. Experimenting with different forms of art and discovering the unique qualities of each, fascinates and excites me. As a Contemporary Realist artist my work includes oil, acrylic, mixed media and 3 dimensional recycled artworks. My still life paintings include chiaroscuro and old master techniques. Every subject is matter for my canvas’s. All of these influences echo and weave stories throughout my work. I have been honored to lead a life of extraordinary adventures. Co-founder of a private elementary school in Santa Fe, NM, Shakespearean Prop Master, Faux Finish Artist, Muralist and the 2007 World Posole Cooking Champion are but a few of my milestones. The greatest, are that of being a mother, grandmother, and true friend. Through these hands, heart and soul, God gifted me art. Juried Exhibitions and Group Shows/ Recent and Upcoming “Scripture Through Many Eyes” Biedenharn Museum, Monroe, La “Surreal Estate: A Journey Through Reality” Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La Best of Show : “I Dreamed A Dream” (painting) Salvadore Dali Award 3 D “ Gogh Call Dali” (sculpture) “What We Don’t See” Women’s Group Show, Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La Raise the Roof Fundraiser, “Morning Praise”( painting on slate tile) Masur Museum, Monroe, La Re’Veillon! Live Auction “ Arlequin’s Menagerie” (painting) Northeast Louisiana Arts Council, Bayou Point, Monroe, La “Seasons in Sportsman’s Paradise” Group Shows, Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La BLOOM! March, 2026 “ POEM” (painting) R.W. Norton Museum, Shreveport, La THE BIG PICTURE ART SHOW “ Messenger of Hope” (painting) Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La Off The Wall Fundraiser April 2026, Masur Museum, Monroe, La “BLEND” May, 2026 Artwork TBD, Bayou Point, Monroe, La “Parish Lines” June, 2026 “ Alliance Ignored Fern” (painting) Ouachita Parish Division, Northeast Louisiana Arts Council “The Fractured Saint—Echoes of Humanity” 2 Woman Show, July, 2026 Courtyard Galerie, West Monroe, La
Established April 15, 1926, Richland Parish Library is the first parish library in the state of Louisiana. The main branch is in Rayville with additional branches in Delhi and Mangham.
I am a Monroe-based graphic designer and the founder of Graphics by Ash, where I specialize in branding, marketing materials, and digital design for small businesses and organizations across Northeast Louisiana. I create clean, modern visuals that not only look beautiful but also serve a strategic purpose. From logos and brand identities to social media graphics, magazine ads, and event materials, I work closely with clients to bring their vision to life. I believe great design should communicate clearly, build credibility, and help businesses grow with confidence. I am passionate about supporting local entrepreneurs and helping them show up professionally in a competitive marketplace.