Beth Radow here, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Larchmont-Mamaroneck, NY. Thank you for your interest in hosting an ART OF DEMOCRACY event.
Please watch THE ART OF DEMOCRACY Video. It highlights the joyful 3-hour Saturday afternoon event on October 11, 2025, that inspired me to share the word with sister League of Women Voters chapters seeking to host a similar event. The video makes it easier to envision how this kind of community gathering can engage people and turn out the vote.
The following will help you get started on your own event:
WHY THIS APPROACH: TO CONNECT OUR INDIVIDUAL CREATIVE SPIRIT, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND THE NEED TO VOTE FOR REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THIS VALUED FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
WHO SETS THE SCENE: ART CONTRIBUTORS: Approach local artists through a local guild, or other art association; and art majors at the local college or university to participate. INVITE local high school art students to participate as an extra-credit assignment.
WHAT: NONPARTISAN ART THEME OF ‘WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE’ FROM THE ARTIST’S PERSPECTIVE. America turns 250 on July 4th. The artist’s imagination, the American flag, Statute of Liberty and other symbols are welcome– art depicting political divisiveness is partisan and not welcome. Possible categories: oil/acrylic; watercolor; photography; mixed media, glass art, sculpture, wood cut.
WHERE: EVENT LOCATIONS-INDOORS: Identify a local art gallery or other accessible space with room for 50 or more guests at a time; a well-lit location with available wall space and other display space to host the indoor event (rain or shine).
Arrange for submissions of original art (16×20” or similar reasonably uniform size) 7-10 days before the event date. Install the art on the walls of the gallery location a week or more before the event date so community members can visit the gallery, see the art, share the word and create a buzz for attending the ART OF DEMOCRACY event.
WHERE: OUTDOORS (Optional): Community Chalk Art. Secure a safe outdoor space near the gallery/event space (street, sidewalk, parking lot) with permission from the local town/city administrator for guests to create chalk art on the theme of democracy. Provide chalk.
WHEN TO GET STARTED: Plan backward from the 2026 midterms. Give yourself enough time to connect with others to plan the event, and enough time for the public to attend and register to vote before elections begin. An unhurried process enables a successful event.
TIMING. Give the creative artists 2.5 to 3 months’ time to create the art.
Start by February 2026 for a late spring or July 4th event. Hosting an ART OF DEMOCRACY event in the first half of 2026 enables participants to pay it forward through poll worker training, mailing VOTE postcards & in-person voter registration thru pre-election season.
For an ART OF DEMOCRACY event after the summer, get started by May and plan for an event no later than early October so people have time to register to vote (Check local Board of Election (BOE) voter registration deadlines). Invite high school/college art students in the spring to contribute art for a fall event so they have the summer months to create the art.
HOW: Invite artists in person with a flyer, or by email with a flyer invite.
WHAT ELSE: Schedule the ART OF DEMOCRACY event for three hours on a day/evening that will maximize turnout. Make the event free and open to the public. Note in publicity that it is nonpartisan and kids are welcome (see flyer sample). Consider Inviting an Artist in Residence. See video for details.
FOOD: Serve finger food and water. Nothing messy. Provide napkins, cups and plates.
PROGRAMMING IDEAS:
A. VOTING DETAILS: INCLUDE your
- City/Town Clerk or local Board of Elections official to speak about the upcoming elections; voter safety and answer questions;
- A League of Women Voters (LWV) member with paper voter registration forms and a laptop computer for on-line voter registration;
- A LWV member to speak about VOTE 411; and
- A poll worker to explain poll worker training and the poll worker experience.
B. LIVE MUSIC: For example-guitar/keyboard/singer.
C. ON AN EASEL, A COMMUNITY CANVAS (20X40 inches) WITH PAINT PENS FOR GUESTS TO CREATE AND ADD THEIR OWN ART VIGNETTE. See video for details.
D. POETRY READING on the topic of women’s suffrage, voting, democracy. See video for details.
E. CREATE A COMMUNITY POEM. See video for details.
F. PUBLICITY: Enlist a LWV chapter member or art community member to create one flyer that invites participants to contribute artwork and a second flyer that invites community members to attend the event.
G. VOTE FOR BEST ART IN SHOW Set up a “safe” voting system where guests can vote for their pick of “best art in show”’ overall or by category.
H. Make your own VOTE postcard. Provide blank postcards with color pencils, markers and VOTE stickers. Blank postcards and supplies can be purchased online or at a local art supply store.
I. For kids, guess the number of items (pick a theme such as stars, small paper flags) in a glass jar.
J. Imaginary Time Capsule for America at 250. Provide a prize.
For more information, please contact Beth at LWVofLarchmontMamaroneck@gmail.com