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FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY proudly hosts the 30th iteration of our annual call for artists: NO DEAD ARTISTS International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art. The call is open through 15 JUNE 2026 and the exhibition participants are selected by an ever-changing group of three prestigious arts professionals. The exhibition is installed in the gallery 16 September and remains on view through 17 October, with an opening reception in conjunction with the Arts District New Orleans’ First Saturday Gallery Openings on 3 October 2026 from 5-8 pm.
The NO DEAD ARTISTS exhibition was founded by Jonathan Ferrara in 1995 to give a voice to emerging artists. The exhibition’s name is derived from the old adage that artists never achieve success until they are dead. NO DEAD ARTISTS turns that notion on its head and often gives emerging artists their first break in the art world. In the 90’s, the exhibition was open to New Orleans-based artists and subsequently grew to include artists of Louisiana, then becoming a national juried exhibition in 2010. In 2014, Matthew Weldon Showman opened the call internationally, expanding the opportunity to artists everywhere and producing an even more diverse and compelling survey of Contemporary Art.
Now in its monumental 30th iteration, the exhibition has been a springboard for numerous artists; leading to national press coverage, recognition, gallery representation, art fair exhibition, and acquisitions by museums and other prominent collections. Each year the gallery invites a panel of renowned arts professionals and collectors to select the newest creative talents from around the world AND as the GRAND PRIZE, one jury-winning artist is awarded a solo exhibition at FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY to take place the following year.
OVERVIEW
Gallery by the Lake Inc. announces its 2026 8th annual Bird Photography Competition to celebrate the joys and benefits of birdwatching, draw attention to the diversity of bird life and habitat around the world and showcase the work of wildlife photographers across North America.
JURORS
The contest will be judged by “Birdwatching for Dummies” co-author and BWD Magazine Managing Editor Dawn Hewitt and BWD Magazine Photographic Editor Bruce Wunderlich.
CALENDAR
April 17th – Call for entry opens on callforentry.org
June 27th – Last day for entries
July 10th - Notification of Acceptance
September 11th - Deadline for receipt of accepted works
September 25th - Reception and Awards Presentations
November 28th - Exhibition concludes
CATEGORIES
Open Category – for photographs taken with any camera system, including DSLR’s and mirrorless camera systems with interchangeable lenses.
Restricted Category
- for photographs taken by individuals age 17 or younger
- for photographs taken with less expensive, so-called “bridge” cameras with non-interchangeable lenses. Examples are the Canon PowerShot SX70HS, Nikon Coolpix P1000, and Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000. Photographs entered into this category erroneously will be removed from consideration without refund of entry fees.
AWARDS ($1325 total)
$450 – Best in Show
Open Category: $350 – 1st Place
$100 – 2nd Place, $75 – 3rd Place
Restricted Category: $250 – 1st Place
$100 – 2nd Place
MEDIA SPECIFICATIONS
Photography in which the main subject is a bird or birds. Digital enhancement should be limited to color, shadow, cropping, and reasonable use of AI sharpening software. No alteration of original image background is allowed. Photography regarding bird safety and dignity outlined in Audubon Photography guidelines should be followed.
ELIGIBILITY
Photographers of all ages, amateur and professional.
ENTRIES
Entries will be made through www.callforentry.org. Each photographer may submit up to 5 entries for the standard non-refundable entry fee of $35. Up to 3 additional entries may be submitted for $5 each.
EXHIBITION
September 25th, 2026 to November 28th, 2026 in the second-floor gallery space of the Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Awards will be announced at the opening reception on September 25th. Accepted artwork is required to remain in the gallery space for the duration of the exhibition, even if sold.
PRESENTATION OF ACCEPTED WORKS
Accepted works must framed and back wired with the wire reaching no higher than 3” from the top of the frame. Image size should not exceed 18” x 24” or equivalent with matted and framed work not larger than 24” x 30”.
DELIVERY OF ACCEPTED WORK
Shipped entries should be suitable to withstand the rigors of packaged shipping. Please ship to:
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Historic City Hall
1001 Ryan Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
o Shipped works can be received between August 11th and September 11th , 2026
o Hand deliveries accepted September 1st to 5th and 8th to 12th from 10 am to 6 pm
o Works must be delivered in reusable packing cartons
o No packing peanuts or popcorn
o All shipped works must include a prepaid return shipping label for each box
o Late or damaged shipments will be returned freight collect
RETURN OF ACCEPTED WORKS
Return of artwork begins December 1st, 2026.
Hand delivery pickup available at Historic City Hall from December 1st to 5th and December 8th to 12th, 10 am to 6 pm.
SALES & REPRODUCTION
A 20% gallery commission will be assessed on the sale of photographs during the exhibition.
The exhibition committee reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries for future press releases, website, and social media promotion of this event.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Gallery by the Lake Inc.
Competition Coordinator: Dan Plummer
Phone: (337) 842-6820
Email: gallerybythelakeswla@gmail.com
This photography competition invites photographers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, to capture the unique essence of Shreveport and Bossier City and the surrounding area. Through your lens, we invite you to explore our vibrant community, iconic landmarks, and the spirit of our festivities. Sponsored by the Prize Foundation and Bossier Parish Community College Foundation.
Golden Lens Grand Prize Winner
A panel of expert judges will select up to 30 photographs for the exhibition. From these, the juror will vote to award the prestigious Golden Lens Award to one photographer, who will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Finalists will be presented to the public for consideration. Public exhibition and voting will take place during Film Prize, October 14-18, 2026. Attendees will be able to vote and one image will be selected as the People’s Choice Award and win $500.00.
The International Exhibition on Animals in Art ran for 28 years before it was put on hiatus due to building renovations and then the pandemic. But we brought it back in 2022. Animals in Art celebrates animals. Pieces must depict an animal (fish and insects are considered animals for the purposes of this exhibition). Any work that is determined not to meet the spirit of the exhibit will not be accepted. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.
This juried exhibition explores the visual and atmospheric qualities of summer through contemporary two-dimensional work. Rather than literal interpretations, we invite work that considers light, heat, duration, and the emotional or psychological textures of the season. Submissions may engage the figure, landscape, interior space, or abstraction, but should reflect a strong command of material, clarity of intent, and a cohesive visual language. Work that suggests a sense of place, memory, or lived experience is especially encouraged. Selected works will be presented in a curated exhibition and promoted across gallery platforms.
The New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) invites artists to participate in its 27th National Juried Art Show, held at The Building Art Gallery in New Orleans from October 3–31, 2026. The exhibit is open to both members and non-members of NOAA. Cash awards will be presented for outstanding examples of accepted artists' work.
Artists may submit up to five pieces of artwork. Acceptable media includes paintings (oil, acrylic, encaustic, pastel, and egg tempera), water media, and drawings (graphite, conte-crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, and scratchboard). Diptychs and triptychs are eligible and count as one submission. Artwork must be original, created without supervision or instruction, and completed after January 1, 2023. All reference photos must have been taken by the artist. Non-acceptable media includes collages, montages, reproductions, prints, crafts, photography, videos, jewelry, three-dimensional works, textiles, fiber art, and any computer-generated elements including work generated or assisted by artificial intelligence. No full-frontal nudes are permitted. Artwork must not have been displayed in any previous NOAA national show and may not be submitted to another exhibition that overlaps with the NOAA exhibit. Artists must be eighteen years of age or older and U.S. citizens at the time of entry submission.
Entry fees are $40 for NOAA members (up to 3 works) or $50 for non-members (up to 3 works), with $10 for each additional work. The deadline for entry is August 3, 2026. Notifications will be emailed by August 12, 2026. A maximum of 80 artworks will be exhibited. Awards include First Place ($2,500 + Ribbon), Second Place ($1,250 + Ribbon), Third Place ($750 + Ribbon), and Honorable Mentions ($100 + Ribbon). Additional merit prizes may be awarded. The juror is Carrie Waller, an internationally known watercolor artist. All accepted artwork must be offered for sale, with The Building retaining a 30% commission. Insurance for artwork is the responsibility of the artist. NOAA and The Building assume no liability for loss, theft, or damage to artwork.
Type of Opportunity | Discipline | Description | Organized by | Actions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th Annual NO DEAD ARTISTS International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art | Exhibition | CalligraphyCeramicsCollageShow 45 disciplines | 6/15/2026 | $40 | — | Louisiana | FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY proudly hosts the 30th iteration of our annual call for artists: NO DEAD ARTISTS International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art. The call is open through 15 JUNE 2026 and the exhibition participants are selected by an ever-changing group of three prestigious arts professionals. The exhibition is installed in the gallery 16 September and remains on view through 17 October, with an opening reception in conjunction with the Arts District New Orleans’ First Saturday Gallery Openings on 3 October 2026 from 5-8 pm. The NO DEAD ARTISTS exhibition was founded by Jonathan Ferrara in 1995 to give a voice to emerging artists. The exhibition’s name is derived from the old adage that artists never achieve success until they are dead. NO DEAD ARTISTS turns that notion on its head and often gives emerging artists their first break in the art world. In the 90’s, the exhibition was open to New Orleans-based artists and subsequently grew to include artists of Louisiana, then becoming a national juried exhibition in 2010. In 2014, Matthew Weldon Showman opened the call internationally, expanding the opportunity to artists everywhere and producing an even more diverse and compelling survey of Contemporary Art. Now in its monumental 30th iteration, the exhibition has been a springboard for numerous artists; leading to national press coverage, recognition, gallery representation, art fair exhibition, and acquisitions by museums and other prominent collections. Each year the gallery invites a panel of renowned arts professionals and collectors to select the newest creative talents from around the world AND as the GRAND PRIZE, one jury-winning artist is awarded a solo exhibition at FERRARA SHOWMAN GALLERY to take place the following year. | Northeast Louisiana Arts Council | Apply |
| 2026 Hit Me With Your Best Shot! Bird Photography Competition and Exhibition | Exhibition | Photography | 6/27/2026 | $35 | — | Louisiana | OVERVIEW JURORS CALENDAR CATEGORIES Restricted Category AWARDS ($1325 total) MEDIA SPECIFICATIONS ELIGIBILITY ENTRIES EXHIBITION PRESENTATION OF ACCEPTED WORKS DELIVERY OF ACCEPTED WORK Hit Me With Your Best Shot! o Shipped works can be received between August 11th and September 11th , 2026 o Hand deliveries accepted September 1st to 5th and 8th to 12th from 10 am to 6 pm o Works must be delivered in reusable packing cartons o No packing peanuts or popcorn o All shipped works must include a prepaid return shipping label for each box o Late or damaged shipments will be returned freight collect RETURN OF ACCEPTED WORKS SALES & REPRODUCTION The exhibition committee reserves the right to reproduce accepted entries for future press releases, website, and social media promotion of this event. CONTACT INFORMATION | Northeast Louisiana Arts Council | Apply |
| Photo Prize | Award | Photography | 7/8/2026 | Free | $1,000 | United StatesLouisianaNW Louisiana | This photography competition invites photographers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, to capture the unique essence of Shreveport and Bossier City and the surrounding area. Through your lens, we invite you to explore our vibrant community, iconic landmarks, and the spirit of our festivities. Sponsored by the Prize Foundation and Bossier Parish Community College Foundation. A panel of expert judges will select up to 30 photographs for the exhibition. From these, the juror will vote to award the prestigious Golden Lens Award to one photographer, who will receive a $1,000 cash prize. People’s Choice AwardFinalists will be presented to the public for consideration. Public exhibition and voting will take place during Film Prize, October 14-18, 2026. Attendees will be able to vote and one image will be selected as the People’s Choice Award and win $500.00. | Jenn Wasserman | Apply |
| 2026 International Exhibition on Animals in Art | Call to Artists | CalligraphyCeramicsCollageShow 45 disciplines | 7/15/2026 | $25 | — | Louisiana | The International Exhibition on Animals in Art ran for 28 years before it was put on hiatus due to building renovations and then the pandemic. But we brought it back in 2022. Animals in Art celebrates animals. Pieces must depict an animal (fish and insects are considered animals for the purposes of this exhibition). Any work that is determined not to meet the spirit of the exhibit will not be accepted. The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect. | Northeast Louisiana Arts Council | Apply |
| NSULA Fine + Graphic Arts/Natchitoches Art Guild Juried Art Show | Call to Artists | CalligraphyCeramicsCollageShow 45 disciplines | 7/28/2026 | $35 | — | Louisiana | This juried exhibition explores the visual and atmospheric qualities of summer through contemporary two-dimensional work. Rather than literal interpretations, we invite work that considers light, heat, duration, and the emotional or psychological textures of the season. Submissions may engage the figure, landscape, interior space, or abstraction, but should reflect a strong command of material, clarity of intent, and a cohesive visual language. Work that suggests a sense of place, memory, or lived experience is especially encouraged. Selected works will be presented in a curated exhibition and promoted across gallery platforms. | Northeast Louisiana Arts Council | Apply |
| 27th National Juried Art Show | Call to Artists | CalligraphyCeramicsCollageShow 45 disciplines | 8/3/2026 | $40 | — | Louisiana | The New Orleans Art Association (NOAA) invites artists to participate in its 27th National Juried Art Show, held at The Building Art Gallery in New Orleans from October 3–31, 2026. The exhibit is open to both members and non-members of NOAA. Cash awards will be presented for outstanding examples of accepted artists' work. | Northeast Louisiana Arts Council | Apply |
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