National Scrollathon: Join Us To Represent Connecticut!

The National Scrollathon is America’s cultural project that will bring together communities from across the U.S. Upon completion, over 56 large-scale textile artworks will be displayed in a major art installation at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2026. This project celebrates the creative contributions of more than 250,000 participants from all 50 states and territories, and will feature photographic portraits of thousands of participants in the Kennedy Center exhibition. The National Scrollathon is organized by artist brothers Steven and William Ladd.

Taking cues from the traditions of quilting bees and story circles, Scrollathon provides participants with pressure-free opportunities to share, talk, and think–riffing on everyone’s improvisation to make art objects that are imbued with personal and universal meaning. Each individual will create a hand-rolled scroll infused with a personal story or statement. Crafted from two-colored fabric strips, each scroll is hand-rolled, pinned, titled, inscribed, and placed in a souvenir tin for participants to keep. After completing their personal keepsake, participants will create a second scroll, personalized with their initials or a small drawing. This scroll will be incorporated into a larger artwork displayed on the grounds of the Kennedy Center, alongside installations from across the nation.

The Aldrich will host two one-hour workshops that are free for the public at 11 am and 1 pm. These sessions will include facilitated discussion, storytelling, and hands-on art-making. Photographic portraits of participants will be created and included in a mural exhibited with the artwork, as well as featured in a printed brochure commemorating this unique program. Select participants will have the opportunity to sit down for an interview with acclaimed filmmaker André Robert Lee, where they can share their experiences and aspirations for the country’s future. In addition, The Aldrich is hosting groups from several of the Museum’s community partners, including Side by Side Charter School, St. Luke’s School, Ridgefield Station, and Maggie Daly Arts Cooperative, for sessions with the artists.

This innovative public program will illuminate our community’s hopes and dreams for America in a multimedia installation that will serve as Connecticut’s contribution to the National Scrollathon. The stories recorded and artwork created during the program will join presentations from all 50 states, 5 territories, and Washington D.C. and be displayed at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2026.

For more information, visit the project website at www.scrollathon.com.