Ogden Museum of Southern Art
925 Camp St
New Orleans, LA 70130
504.539.9650 | HOURS
925 Camp St
New Orleans, LA 70130
504.539.9650 | HOURS
Asia Rachal (Dillard University), Untitled, 2021, Acrylic
Featuring artwork by students from Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana
Eight 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 100 HBCU artists from Louisiana’s five HBCU 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 Education Department seeks to present a variety of perspectives and points of view to broaden and enrich our understanding of the world. Especially during these unprecedented times, 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; Ron Bechet, MaPó Kinnord, Edie Laneri and Joan Ulmer of Xavier University of Louisiana; and Cynthia Rameriz of Southern University at New Orleans, 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.
Arts Facet co-chair Kathleen Turner states, “‘Linking Arts Through Transformative Programming’ is a premier goal of the Arts Facet. The ongoing partnership of the New Orleans Chapter of the Links, Incorporated Arts Facet with the Ogden Museum, in conjunction with the HBCUs and student artists, is now an 8 year program of success affording exemplary student artists opportunities of recognition and support for their educational and career pursuits. Links chapters partner with organizations of shared goals; museums, symphonies, arts councils, educational institutes and corporations. The exhibit continues to serve as an opportunity to reach and educate a broad and inclusive audience.”
The Links, Incorporated has celebrated more than 67 years as a women’s volunteer service organization committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the cultural and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. A premier international service organization with nearly 14,000 members in 280 chapters located in 41 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, its legacy of friends providing service that changes lives, established by the original circle of nine friends in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1946, is alive and well. The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders. The Links, Incorporated has attracted many distinguished women who are individual achievers and who have made a difference in their communities and the world. They are business and civic leaders, role models, mentors, activists and volunteers who work towards a common vision by engaging like-minded organizations and individuals for partnership. With more than 2 million service hours recorded in the past three years, members regularly contribute more than 500,000 documented service hours in their respective communities annually.
Since it was chartered on November 20, 1957, the New Orleans Chapter of The Links, Incorporated has engaged in implementing program services through the five National Program Facets: Services to Youth; International Trends and Services; National Trends and Services; Health and Human Services; and the Arts. The chapter’s major initiatives include co-sponsoring the local competition for the Scripps National Spelling Bee and Law Day, in which students are trained in legal proceedings and participate in a mock trial. The main focus areas are: education and youth activities to assist youth in fulfilling their intellectual potential; addressing issues affecting the African-American community through health and wellness projects; fostering cultural appreciation through the arts; and collaborating with other Link chapters to provide services and assistance to global friends.
