Gift from the Bywater CDC helps expand Draw-A-Thon

Antenna is thrilled to announce that at our recent board meeting, representatives from the Bywater Community Development Corporation, Skip Henderson and John Guarnieri, delivered a check to establish an educational partnership between Antenna’s 24 hour Draw-a-thon and the Homer A. Plessy Community School.

Draw-a-thon, one of New Orleans’ most successful community art events is developed and staffed by exceptional artists and arts educators from a variety of local schools, universities and organizations. Plessy’s commitment to an arts-integrated curriculum and to being a vital and inclusive part of the community made this partnership a natural fit.

Skip Henderson and John Guarnieri of the Bywater Community Development Corporation presenting the award to the Antenna Board.

“The Board of Directors of the Bywater Community Development Corporation is very happy to award funding in the amount of $10,000.00 to Antenna to create a partnership between Draw-A-Thon and the Homer A. Plessy Community School as the lead educational institution for this outstanding public art event.

The Bywater Community Development Corporation (BCDC) was founded in 1998 with a belief that artistic expression can be a public activity which helps to promote understanding and to diminish conflict and internal divisions between neighbors. Draw-A-Thon, a unique, joyful and inclusive concept, offers an opportunity for participatory public expression to share and celebrate those gifts.”

Antenna Executive Director, Bob Snead, said of the gift, “we are excited to launch a new program to take Draw-a-thon into schools for field-day style art-making events in the coming year, and the BCDC’s gift provides for a unique opportunity to work with the Plessy School to help pilot this program, ultimately developing a template we can replicate in school’s throughout the city.” The BCDC support comes on the heals of support for the annual Draw-a-thon from Arts Council New Orleans, the Cox Communications Community Grant, The Jazz & Heritage Foundation, The Art4Moore Fund, The Pinckelop Foundation, and The Azby Fund.

This year’s 11th annual Draw-a-thon will take place from 6:30 am November 26 to 6:30 am November 27 at the Marigny Opera House at 725 St. Ferdinand, which will also mark the release of Drawn Together : Celebrating 10 Years of the New Orleans 24-Hour Draw-a-thon, a book that acts as a history of the event, how-to manual, and sketch pad.

For more info about all things Draw-A-Thon stay tuned at: antenna.works/drawathon