(NEW ORLEANS, LA) – In honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Ogden Museum of Southern Art, in collaboration with the New Orleans Public Library, will host the Museum’s 5th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 17, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This special event, presented with support provided by Cox Communications, will feature free admission, family friendly art activities, school group performances, a panel discussion and more.
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. guests of all ages are invited to explore the Museum through a museum scavenger hunt, family friendly entertainment, an interactive “I Have a Dream” wall and more. Take-home art activity bags including art supplies and an instruction booklet will also be available throughout the day. In addition, community groups such as the New Orleans Public Library, BikeEasy, Electric Girls and After Class will be onsite to provide resources and opportunities.
Ellen Balkin, Director of Education, Ogden Museum states “Ogden Museum is excited for our annual celebration. Along with family-friendly art explorations and performances, a new collaboration with the New Orleans Public Library enabled us to expand the program to now offer a panel discussion and art exhibition entitled ‘Passing the Torch: Southern Art and Social Justice.’ We’re looking forward to an inspiring day honoring the incredible life and legacy of Dr. King through art, music, history and community conversations.”
Starting at 3 p.m. Shukrani Gray, African American Resource Collection Equity and Inclusion Librarian, and Dr. Zada Johnson, Associate Professor and Inner City Studies Academic Program Facilitator at Northeastern Illinois University, will be leading a panel discussion exploring the history of social justice activism in New Orleans, as well as contemporary social justice movements in the city. Panelists include Mariah Moore and Leon August Waters, and feature performance artists Sha’Condria “iCon” Sibley and Joy Clark.
“We are thrilled to partner with Ogden Museum this year,” Emily Painton, interim executive director of the New Orleans Public Library, said. “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy lives on in the activism we see today, and I could not think of a better way to celebrate his life than to honor those who continue his work.”
Ogden Museum encourages patrons to reserve free timed tickets online at www.ogdenmuseum.org. Anyone 12 years of age and older must provide proof of at least one dose of an approved COVID vaccine or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours to access. Ogden Museum will accept original vaccine cards, the LA Wallet app or high-resolution photos of both sides of your vaccine card as proof of vaccination. Physical copies or a photo of a negative COVID-19 test will also be accepted. Masks are strongly encouraged.
The 3 p.m. panel discussion is organized in collaboration with the New Orleans Public Library and sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library. The program is also supported by a Rebirth PL Grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. Funding for Rebirth PL grants has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan. Additional funding is provided by the Union Pacific Foundation.
About Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Located in the vibrant Warehouse Arts District of downtown New Orleans, Louisiana since 1999 and open to the public since 2003, Ogden Museum of Southern Art invites visitors to experience and learn about the artists and culture of the American South. Ogden Museum is home to a collection of more than four thousand works, making it the largest and most comprehensive repository dedicated to Southern art in the nation, with particular strength in the genres of Self-Taught art, Regionalism, photography, and contemporary art. The Museum is further recognized for its original exhibitions, public events and educational programs, which examine the development of visual art alongside Southern traditions of music, literature and local craft.
Ogden Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission is free to Museum Members and $13.50 for adults, $11 for seniors 65 and older, $6.75 for children ages 5-17 and free for children under 5.
The Museum is located at 925 Camp Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. For more information visit ogdenmuseum.org or call 504.539.9650.
About New Orleans Public Library
With origins dating back to 1843, the New Orleans Public Library has grown from a single French Quarter house with a few volumes into a city-wide system serving all of Orleans Parish with 15 locations throughout the City. The Library’s mission is to transform lives, enrich neighborhoods, and preserve history.
Media Contact: Jane LeGros, jlegros@nolalibary.org