Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival

The Annual Arts Festival of First United Methodist Church, Alexandria, Louisiana, was established in 1967 to encourage use and understanding of the arts as a means of healthy expression. The First Annual Festival presented the first juried art competition in Central Louisiana. 

For more than 50 years, the Festival has offered a variety of exhibits as well as programs of music, film, literature and drama. The Festival was renamed in 1980 to honor the memory of The Rev. Tom Peyton, a former associate minister whose ministry to the entire community’s arts and educational efforts was especially significant. An endowment in Peyton’s memory contributes to the Festival’s budget, which is otherwise supported by patrons’ gifts and grants. The Festival enjoys the guidance and services of the church’s staff and the use of its facilities. The core of the Festival remains the juried art exhibit.

56th Annual Tom Peyton Memorial Arts Festival

April 12 – 21, 2024

Jeff Mickey, Juror

Jeff Mickey is a Professor in the Department Visual Art & Design at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, where he is the area head for the Sculpture Program. He received his BFA from Arkansas State University and MFA from The University of Memphis.

Jeff was a child during the sixties and early seventies. He grew up with chemistry sets, microscopes and science books that were provided by his parents, who encouraged him to find out more about the world around him.

He states, “As I get older, I find that I am as interested in the myths of things in our culture as I am about the environment and the way it works or the science that can explain it. I want to find connections in myself and the world around me and explore situations or objects that describe these connections.”

Jeff has lived in Japan, California, Delaware, Tennessee, and Arkansas. He is now teaching and working in Hammond, Louisiana.

Art submissions are due by February 28, 2024

School Art Exhibit

April 12 – 21, 2024

School Art Exhibit

The School Art Exhibit is a special exhibit to showcase works made by Central Louisiana students (K – 12) and their teachers. The exhibit features artwork in six categories and awards are given to six students – one in each student category and an overall Judge’s Choice Award that recognizes a student who shows outstanding potential.

Award recipients are given their awards during the opening reception on April 12, 2024. All recipients will be notified prior to the opening reception. Teacher art is exhibited but not judged.

Entries

Complete the School Art Entry form online. Guidelines for submission include: 

  1. Artwork must be presented in a professional manner and ready to hang. 2D art must be matted (black or white) and canvases must be framed or stretched. A table will be available for small sculptures.
  2. Artwork must be at the church by Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 3 p.m. The office will accept artwork during regular business hours (M-Th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  3. An opening reception, including the presentation of student awards, will be Friday, April 12, from 6-8 p.m.  Award recipients will be notified in advance.
School Art Entry Form
All entry forms for the School Art exhibit must be submitted by Thursday, March 21, 2024. This ensures time to include the artwork in the program. The artwork, presented in a professional manner and ready to hang, must be delivered to First United Methodist Church no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2024.