About Night of a 1000 drawings
 

In 2006, Paballo, an inner-city homeless care faced a big problem. Its bakkie had been stolen. Paballo ya Batho (southu for “caring for the people”) organises a mobile soup kitchen every Wednesday night to supports the Jozi homeless community. The loss of the bakkie made transport of soup and bread to inner-city homeless people near impossible. Something had to be done.

A little rescue plan was dreamt up. It was hoped that a fundraiser would collect enough money for a new bakkie. Maybe enough money would be raised to also help pay off some of Paballos debts and allow Paballo to put time and money into new endeavours.

The Night of  1000 Drawings came into being. The name comes from an existing commercial model that exists in America. However, our organization that has transformed “Thousand Drawings” into an unique event and manner to raise funds for a good cause.

The event is a one night exhibition of original artwork, on A5 sheets and sold at a set price of R 100.00. The artworks are sponsored by various sectors of the community e.g. school children, homeless persons, designers, artists, art enthusiasts, to aspiring scribblers and the general public.

The use of creative email communication has caused a stir amongst the online community and resulted in a loyal following of supporters of the event.
The mailer asked to donate A5 drawings. The only brief was “draw anything with anything on anything A5”. The response was overwhelming. A large number of drawings were donated by artists throughout South Africa, but also a number of international entries that came across this initiative over the internet were submitted. By donating their time and skill into making drawings, the artists were making a difference and enabling a better future for the homeless people Paballo supports.There were a number of drawing cards that made this event successful which included:
The utilization of an innovative approach to raise funds for a good cause.

• - The opportunity to purchase an original art piece at an affordable price.
• - Creating a showcase for interactive, contemporary South African art.
• - The enticement of good music, bands and DJ. 
• - The opportunity for individuals to experience an alternative, creative and interesting environment in the city.

Principal’s of night of a 1000 Drawings

Over the last three years a number of principals and ancillary aims that we have been striving for while conceptualising and implementing the fund raiser.
These are:

• - To expose and provide a level playing field for up-and-coming artists, established artists, amateurs, old and young. Thus: all drawings to be sold at the same price, all drawings need to be displayed randomly at the event, no classifications of any sort.
• - Raise awareness and funding for the charities in question and make it the centre of attraction in any communication that goes out.    * Promoting the inner city and encouraging the general public to embrace the inner city more
• - Involvement of the community as contirbuters of art work but also as volunteers to help manage and maintain the event.
• - Motivating the general public to use their creative juices and get involved in a good cause. We want to break the whole syndrome of “I cannot draw”, “I as an individual cannot do anything to change things, that’s the role of governments and big corporates”.
• - Make the event attractive for a broad population base, i.e. jump over barriers of social class, race, age, religious affiliation.
• - Be transparent to all stake holders involved.

John Doodle
Some important guy