The 24-hour draw-a-thon in New Orleans is just one in a long line of events across the globe that have taken the name “draw-a-thon.” The most prominent is Pratt’s draw-a-thon, which focuses on 12 hours of figure drawing. “draw-a-thon” means something different for each group that organizes such an event, but the constant among them all is the marathon of creativity.

Draw-a-thon emerged post-Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when storm-scattered artists sought a way to recapture their sense of community in New Orleans. Drawing together produced a sort of catharsis during a time when so much felt out of control. With a pencil in hand, artists could at least control what they were creating.

In the early months following the storm, five friends came together around a kitchen table and tried to come up with ideas to reboot the cultural life of New Orleans. Brad Benischek, a founding member, thought that what the city really needed was a 24-hour drawing event—something completely ridiculous but, at the same time, fun—creating for the sake of creating. At a time when the city was rebuilding, draw-a-thon was an opportunity for creative release from the drudgery of recovery.

Stretching the activity overnight transformed it into more than just an art event, it became a special bonding experience. Today, that spirit of connection and creative freedom continues to bring together star artists, art students, children, and anyone who simply likes to push a pencil across a pad.