Twelve years ago, Ogden Museum of Southern Art and The New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Incorporated formed a partnership with the goal of presenting an exhibition that would spotlight works of art created by students attending Louisiana’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and provide an opportunity to celebrate those artists. Since then, the HBCU Art Showcase has been presented annually in the Museum’s Education Gallery, a space designated to honor the teaching of art and works created by students in the Southern region of the United States. To date, over 154 HBCU artists from Louisiana’s five HBCUs have participated in the annual showcase.

A fundamental objective of Ogden Museum is to create programs that explore the diversity of backgrounds, experiences and ideas that artists and viewers bring to the museum experience. To this end, the Museum’s Learning and Engagement Department seeks to present a variety of perspectives and points of view to broaden and enrich our understanding of the world. Ogden Museum is proud to provide a platform for young students of color to share their voice and offer commentary on the impactful times in which we all live.

Ogden Museum applauds The New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Incorporated for their continued support of this exhibition. Many thanks are also extended to John Barnes of Dillard University, and Ron Bechet and MaPo Kinnord of Xavier University for their enthusiastic assistance with the organization and presentation of this exhibition.

Finally, gratitude is extended to the students for their hard work and artistic vision. The HBCU Art Showcase has become a highlight in Ogden Museum’s exhibition calendar and an important component in the advancement towards racial equity.