CONNECTThe Big Draw LA Drawing Festival. Drawing Los Angeles together!
Let’s get Angelenos of all ages and backgrounds drawing together to create art, build connections and imagine our shared future.
Are any other organizations collaborating on this proposal?
Varies depending on the organizations that create public art events and register it on TheBigDrawLA.org website each year.
Please describe your project proposal.
Ryman Arts will expand The Big Draw LA (BDLA) campaign, Southern California’s largest drawing festival, a month-long, community drawing experiences, across Los Angeles by collaborating with local venues. BDLA will raise awareness of drawing’s power as a tool for learning, observation, creativity, and social and cultural engagement by the community – enhancing the quality of each Angeleno and representing Los Angeles as the creative capital that it is.
Which of the CONNECT metrics will your proposal impact?
Social & emotional support
Cultural events
Public/open streets gatherings
Rates of volunteerism
Total number of local social media friends and connections Angelenos have
In what areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
Central LA
East LA
San Gabriel Valley
San Fernando Valley
South LA
Westside
South Bay
Gateway Cities
Antelope Valley
County of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles
Describe in greater detail how your proposal will make LA the best place to CONNECT?
Ryman Arts’ LA 2050 idea is to build on the success of The Big Draw LA campaign to expand its reach and to continue to connecting Angelenos to each other through community art.
BDLA is a celebration of the act of drawing that encourages local organizations to plan participatory art-making events to connect community members with each other in October. BDLA, which Ryman Arts is presenting for the 7th year, will increase cultural events in LA, engagement in public gatherings, and provide a common thread for Angelenos to connect through social media.
1.Facilitating the production of public participatory drawing events at LA County venues
Ryman Arts creates and promotes community drawing events at diverse venues such as museums, libraries, senior centers, restaurants, parks, and others. Participating in art-making and cultural activities leads to a stronger community and enhances individual development. BDLA ensures that Ryman Arts continues to educate community members on the value of community engagement, build awareness of the value of art, and increase opportunities for artistic participation among the Los Angeles public. This leads to increased public participation and appreciation of both formal/informal arts events, and impact on Los Angeles’ role as a leader in the arts.
2.Marketing of events and online sharing of artwork
Any organization can host an art event, with an emphasis on free or low-cost events. Ryman Arts compiles these events on TheBigDrawLA.org website, coordinates marketing, and provides additional communication about events through Ryman Arts’ social media. Each participant is encouraged to post images of his/her artwork with the hashtag #TheBigDrawLA.
3.Assisting organizations to create public drawing events
Program support to community groups includes holding planning events for local organizations to assist them in hosting community events – specifically geared towards non-arts related organizations. With funding, Ryman Arts will be able to build event kits – canopies, carts, banners, art supplies, and additional marketing supplies – that can be lent to partner organizations for usage in their events.
4.Producing one large scale event for the public at Grand Park
BDLA includes Ryman Arts’ flagship event, Make Your Mark in the Park, a fun-filled, creative, afternoon that celebrates the act of drawing through free activities, led by Ryman Arts students. This event connects with local partners, including: Artist & Craftsman Supply, CicLAvia, Otis College, and Self Help Graphics. 3,000+ community members captured the spirit of art at this year’s event at Grand Park in DTLA. Featured on NBC 4 News: http://bit.ly/2dHZ83F
Help Ryman Arts reach more local organizations, more untraditional venues that will create access and opportunity for ALL neighborhoods in LA. Give Angelenos the chance to build deeper connections with their community and to create a more informed, vibrant, and connected Los Angeles.
Please explain how you will define and measure success for your project.
Ryman Arts will evaluate success through tracking the number of people who participate in individual BDLA events, users of our online resources, types of art shared online, and community groups who register public BDLA events. Ryman Arts will assess qualitative factors through debriefing sessions with the advisory group, post –event facilitated discussions, and analyzing demographics.
This project will be successful if it:
1. Creates opportunities for LA community members to connect with each other at a BDLA event
2. Increases the number of LA community members who will have participated in an enjoyable hands-on drawing experience in a community setting.
3. Increases the number of LA community organizations that will have presented a public art activity
4. Establishes drawing as a communication tool amongst community members of different age, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and ethnicities.
BDLA encourages participants to rediscover the power of drawing as a tool and as a way of seeing the world. In 2050, the phrase “I can’t draw” would be removed from our collective speech. Drawing, like speaking, writing and mathematics, would be a language of communication among all people. Drawing would be a basis for social interactions and understanding. With BDLA, we hope that the year 2050 will be one of open, accessible, and welcomed participation in artistic and cultural activities without any feelings of unfamiliarity or intimidation for Angelenos.
How can the LA2050 community and other stakeholders help your proposal succeed?
Money
Volunteers
Publicity/awareness
Infrastructure (building/space/vehicles etc.)
Community outreach
Network/relationship support