Show Some Love to Your Local Artists
Applications are open now for the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) Honors Gala!
The 4th annual gala celebration will take place on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Mardi Gras World. Anyone is invited to nominate artists they believe are upholding a standard of excellence within New Orleans' cultural and creative scene.
The application deadline is July 21, 2025.
Who Qualifies?
Nominees may be working in the culinary arts, design, entertainment, literary arts and humanities, preservation, or visual arts and crafts. The application form is separated into three categories based on how long they have been in their particular field.
"Emerging Artists" include those who have been a professional cultural artist for five years or less. "Established Artists" are those who have been operating for six to 39 years. Creatives who have been working for 40 or more years slot into the "Lifetime Achievement" section. Make sure to fill out the correct form for your nominee!
Artists who are selected as winners will be invited to the gala for free, recognized during the event, and spotlighted in a pre-filmed interview.
About the NOTCF
The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund reinforces organizations and individuals who keep the city's culture and artistry alive. Funding and collaborations via the NOTCF support New Orleans' creativity, which has always made it an exciting and special city to visit.
The NOTCF recognizes that without culture bearers, such as painters, chefs, sculptors, writers, museum curators, poets, and all those with innovative spirits, the artistic nature of New Orleans that makes it such a wonderful city would wither. There's something so magical about walking in the French Quarter and seeing dozens of art galleries in the span of a few blocks, buying "fence art" in Jackson Square, or visiting museums with exhibits that highlight New Orleans' culture.
The NOTCF recognizes all this and is helping to make sure that art is a part of the everyday New Orleans experience, now and always.
Support Your Favorite Artists
Don't shy away from nominating an artist or creative who has impacted you! From a chef who made the best meal you've ever had or a painter whose art is hanging on your wall, you could just give them the best gift of their career: receiving an award from the very city whose energy and spirit they've worked so hard to uplift.
