Night of 1000 Drawings is Back and We Are SO Excited!

Photo Credit: Chris Preyser

A night that unites art enthusiasts and the charitable of heart is back for more; the Night of 1000 Drawings is a highlight on the upcoming events calendar.

Johannesburg, South Africa (30 June 2024) – Over the years, artists and art enthusiasts, as well as art collectors, have united for a cause – to support charity through the creation of 1000 A5 drawings. Night of 1000 Drawings, an inner-city art exhibition, is back again to enthral all who attend, to witness 1000 pieces of art hanging from every space at Victoria Yards, Lorentzville.

1000 Drawings is an art-for-charity initiative that changes lives. This campaign is about people (just like you and me) creating artwork in an A5 format. These can be doodles, sketches, paintings, photographs, etchings, embroidery – any kind of art if it’s A5.

Nestled between the artworks of everyday people are artworks by some of South Africa’s most acclaimed artists. So spending time viewing each area will allow you to unearth some truly beautiful gems.

“We encourage the general public (creative and not), up-and-coming and recognised artists, designers and others – to create and donate A5 masterpieces. These can be doodles, sketches, paintings, photographs, etchings, chocolate, embroidery – we’ve even had a donation in pewter.

These one-of-a-kind art pieces are then exhibited and sold for R200 each at the world’s biggest A5 art exhibition”

Night of a 1000 Drawings Johannesburg was started in 2006, when the delivery van for the inner-city soup kitchen, Paballo Ya Batho was stolen. Overnight it became impossible to feed and provide basic support to hundreds of homeless and impoverished people. The idea of a Night of a 1000 Drawings was born as a fundraising rescue: they would ask everyone and anyone to donate A5 drawings to be sold for R100 each at an inner-city art exhibition.

With the launch of the event, a new delivery van was purchased and the event became an annual project to keep funding South African causes.

The beauty of the project is that every South African has the chance to share their art. The artworks are created by South Africans from all sectors of the community, from school children to the homeless and orphaned, designers and artists, students and professionals. All the art on exhibition is made by the public, for the public, and enjoyed by the public.

This year, the event is supporting two charities (with a third one possibly in the works).

Lefika la Phodiso

Africa’s first organisation that focuses on accessible mental health services in the form of art counselling for children in under-resourced communities. They provide a physical and emotional safe space for children’s healing while at the same time empowering them to better navigate day-to-day challenges.

You can find out more here.

Home of Hope for Girls

A haven for children and teens who have predominantly been affected by child sex trafficking. They focus on providing educational resources in the hopes that it will go a long way towards their independence and success in adulthood.

You can find out more here.

Previous beneficiaries have included Streetlight Schools, Bjala Foundation, Outreach Foundation, Mmabana Foundation, Princess Alice Adoption Home, the Intuthuko Embroidery Group, Paballo Ya Batho, Dallas Nje, Everybody Loves Everybody and Timbuktu in the Valley.

All you need to do is purchase your ticket, and then when sales open, purchase the artworks that speak to you. The funds raised from the sales of the donated art go towards the selected charities.

The event is taking place on the 7th of September at Victoria Yards. Tickets are R100 and can be purchased on Quicket at https://qkt.io/f1EHFe