“Sarasota Art Museum and its community are honored to be the Florida representative for the National Scrollathon,” said Virginia Shearer, executive director of Sarasota Art Museum. “We’re so excited to welcome the Sarasota community to be a part of this transformative experience that has engaged thousands and demonstrates how contemporary art can be a lens for personal and collective storytelling.”

During a Scrollathon, participants create and title their own scroll before being invited to share the title and its meaning with other participants. The scroll is later incorporated into a Collaborative Masterwork sculpture by Steven and William Ladd. Since its founding in 2006, Scrollathon has served more than 10,000 people from diverse ages, backgrounds, and abilities, inviting participants to think about what they value in life while creating museum-quality art.

The National Scrollathon is a nationwide program that will engage more than 33,000 people of diverse ages, backgrounds, and abilities through the collaborative creation and presentation of monumental works of art in all 50 states, five territories, and Washington, D.C., plus 10 Native Regional Centers. The ultimate outcome envisioned for National Scrollathon is an outstanding, enduring, and memorable example of what represents and unites us as Americans. Sarasota’s Collaborative Masterwork will represent Florida as part of the National Scrollathon exhibition opening in 2026 to celebrate the United States’ Semiquincentennial (250th Anniversary).

The Sarasota Scrollathon Community Partners include organizations touching all corners of the Sarasota region—All Star Children’s Foundation, ALSO Youth, Alzheimer’s Association Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, CreArte Latino Cultural Center, Easter Seals of Southwest Florida, Fabulous Arts Foundation, Girls Inc. of Sarasota County, Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce, Impact Theatre, Indigenous in Music and Arts Inc., JFCS of the Suncoast, Kutya Major SAM Teen Arts Council + Family, Manasota BUDS (Bringing Up Down Syndrome), New College of Florida, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Neuro Challenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, Planned Parenthood Sarasota Peer Ed Team, Ringling College of Art and Design Liberal Arts Department, Second Heart Homes, Sarasota Art Museum staff, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota County Health & Human Services, Sarasota Memorial Memory Disorder Clinic, Senior Friendship Centers Sarasota, Southside School Foundation for the Arts, and Streets of Paradise Sarasota.

National Scrollathon/Florida at Sarasota Art Museum is sponsored by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. The exhibition Steven and William Ladd: Lead With a Laugh is paid for in part by Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues.