The Founders Ball is the Louisiana Museum Foundation's annual fundraising gala celebrating a flagship exhibition in the third-floor gallery of The Cabildo. In 2026, the event honors the opening of the Sportsman’s Paradise: A Louisiana State Museum Exhibition Celebrating Conservation on view from November 5, 2026, through Summer 2028. The exhibition explores Louisiana’s sporting legacy and outdoor heritage through the lens of craftsmanship, duck hunting culture, and the evolution of habitat stewardship in one of North America’s most important migratory corridors.

Situated within the Mississippi Flyway, Louisiana has long been both a destination for waterfowl and a proving ground for conservation practices. Drawing from the Louisiana State Museum’s permanent collection and significant private loans, Sportsman’s Paradise traces the progression from early sporting traditions to modern, science-based conservation efforts that sustain wetlands, wildlife, and the communities that depend on them. The exhibition also examines the cultural heritage of sporting traditions that have shaped the cultural identity of the Mississippi River Delta and surrounding landscapes. Featured artifacts include original works by John James Audubon and George Viavant, early twentieth-century photographs, Louisiana-made decoys, and more.

As Title Sponsor of the 2026 Founders Ball, Ducks Unlimited brings 90 years of conservation leadership to an exhibition rooted in Louisiana’s sporting heritage and outdoor traditions. Since 1985, the organization has helped conserve more than 629,000 acres in Louisiana, protecting vital wetlands and wildlife habitats while sustaining the communities and traditions that depend on them. Its partnership with the Louisiana Museum Foundation reflects a shared commitment to preserving and presenting the cultural and conservation legacy that defines Louisiana as the Sportsman’s Paradise.

The Louisiana Museum Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports, administers funding for, and raises awareness of the state-owned and operated Louisiana State Museum System. Proceeds from the Founders Ball help fund the creation and presentation of major exhibitions and support educational programming throughout the exhibition’s year-long run, including K-12 field trips, student resources, public lectures, and lifelong learning opportunities for audiences of all ages.

Attire:  Black Tie with Bold Green Hues, “Camo Chic” inspired by Louisiana Marshland 

Music by Jourdan Thibodeaux, Johnny Vidacovich & The Desert Nudes

Decoy Carving Demonstration by Cal Kingsmill, Duck Call Demonstration by Canaan Heard, and Live Projection Art by Monica Kelly Studio  

Signature Bites by Dickie Brennan & Co.

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