Historic New Orleans Collection’s “Captive State” named 2026 Museum Exhibition of the Year

Written By Alicia Vial

NEW ORLEANS — In partnership with Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) announced yesterday that the Historic New Orleans Collection’s (HNOC) “Captive State: Louisiana and the Making of Mass Incarceration” exhibition has been selected as the 2026 Museum Exhibition of the Year. 

Part of LEH’s Bright Lights Awards that recognizes those who make significant contributions to the understanding of Louisiana’s history and culture, the Museum Exhibition of the Year award recognizes an exhibition that brings new insights to understanding the state, its artists and/or its history.

Using historical objects, textual interpretation, multimedia content and data visualization, “Captive State” traced the 300-year connection between slavery and mass incarceration. The free exhibition investigated mass incarceration through a historical lens and drew more than 25,000 visitors to HNOC’s French Quarter museum from July 19, 2024, through Feb. 16, 2025.

“Receiving this award from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser as we celebrate our 60th anniversary is a profound honor,” said HNOC President and CEO Daniel Hammer. “For six decades, our mission has been to use history as a lens to better understand our present. Captive State is a testament to that enduring relevance—it was the result of years of collaboration and research intended to spark vital dialogue on the history that continues to shape our society today.”

In addition to the 2026 Museum Exhibition of the Year, “Captive State” also received a Gold Exhibition Award, Gold Technology Award and Silver Technology Award from the 2025 Southeastern Museums Conference as well as the John Thompson Award for Courage & Justice from Innocence & Justice Louisiana.

HNOC will be recognized at LEH’s Bright Lights Awards presentation at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge Tuesday, March 24. To learn more about “Captive State” and HNOC’s newest publication of the same name, visit www.hnoc.org.

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About the Historic New Orleans Collection:
The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC) is a nonprofit institution dedicated to preserving the distinctive history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South. Founded in 1966 through the Kemper and Leila Williams Foundation, HNOC operates as a free museum, research center and publisher spanning more than 14 historic buildings in the heart of the French Quarter. For more information visit hnoc.org.

 

 

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

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