This video was created during Phase 1 of National Scrollathon and tells the story of our journey across all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C., culminating in a national presentation at the Kennedy Center in 2026.
What is a Scrollathon?
Scrollathon® is a multimedia, collaborative art program that brings people together to share their stories, hopes, dreams, and creative expression.
Created by artists Steven and William Ladd through their own studio practice, Scrollathon is rooted in the belief that every person has something meaningful to contribute and that individual expressions can come together to create something larger.
National Scrollathon: Phase 2
National Scrollathon began as an ambitious journey across the United States, bringing together nearly 10,000 participants from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C. Each community contributed to a growing portrait of America through collaborative art, individual stories, and photographic portraits.
Phase 2 continues that journey.
We are returning to communities across the country and its territories, reconnecting with past partners, welcoming new participants, creating new collaborative artworks, and recording more American stories.
Each Scrollathon becomes a portrait of its community and a permanent record of the people who participated.
Participants make a scroll that they get to keep.
Each participant selects two strips of fabric and rolls them together to create an individual scroll. The scroll is secured with a pin and placed inside a Souvenir Tin. Participants write their name, the title of their scroll, and the date inside the lid of the tin. They then have the opportunity to share the title and story behind their scroll with the group.
Participants make a second scroll for the Collaborative Masterwork.
Participants create a second scroll using fabric and a wooden dowel rod. They customize the dowel with their initials or decorative marks, creating a permanent representation of their participation.
These individual contributions are brought together by Steven and William to create a Collaborative Masterwork representing the community. The completed artwork is presented to the Program Host and may become part of its permanent collection.
Participants have their photographic portrait created for the Souvenir Publication.
Each participant is photographed as part of the program. The portraits are brought together in a Souvenir Publication documenting the people and the collaborative artwork created through the Scrollathon.
A Portrait Mural is also created for the Program Host and can be exhibited alongside the Collaborative Masterwork.
