Monster Drawing Rally

at the Westmoreland

About

Twenty local artists competed in three rounds of speed drawing inspired by the exhibition, "The Great Search: Art in a Time of Change, 1928-1945." Each artist had one hour per round to create an original work. The public voted after each round, deciding who would move on in the competition. In the final round, the top artists went head-to-head for a cash prize. This family-friendly event included a DJ for music and dancing as well as an artmaking activity. 

Intended Outcome

With its Monster Drawing Rally, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art hoped to reach 150 visitors, support and promote local artists and art centers, and connect with a younger Gen Z and Millennial audience.

Actual Outcome

All 20 artists plus the DJ were from the region, and the museum's work in engaging local art centers helped with its recruitment of artists as well as the promotion of the event. The museum reached 114 visitors and successfully connected with a younger audience, as 36 percent of survey respondents were under the age of 45.

Advice Post Project

When hosting an event involving many artists at once, plan as far in advance as possible. The Westmoreland found that it was difficult to coordinate multiple contributor schedules, so it started coordinating early in the planning process and kept open communication with the artists.