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Jennifer Bolande’s “Green Towel Sequence #1” (2004) will be one of the works ra

Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, but to the UCLA art department, it’s worth more than that.

With a pool of drawings and eager art supporters, the luck will literally be in the draw and the drawing.

The UCLA Department of Art will present the first “Luck of the Draw(ing),” which celebrates the exceptionality of the visual arts department, UCLArts alumni and the arts community. The event will be held at Parking Lot 36 at the Kinross building from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday.

Beginning in 2003, California reduced funding for higher education disproportionately to overall state funding cuts. Few would argue that higher education can or should be exempted from reductions required by state financial problems, but disproportionately large cuts in state higher education appropriations were the principal cause of the rolling back of higher education opportunity and performance.

The main inspiration for “Luck of the Draw(ing)” was the recent budget cuts, which have escalated dramatically, and the art department has recently been feeling the effects. In order to fully reach its potential, the art department had to produce extra money. As a result, tickets for the event are $75 each.

UCLA art Professor Cathy Opie initiated this fund-raising aspect, and is co-chairing the undertaking along with art department chairwoman Barbara Drucker.

“The department has never had to fund raise in the past, so we decided to begin with this grassroots event,” Drucker said.

The goal of the affair, which is expected to be held annually, is fund-raising for the art department. The money raised will provide a fund to educate, inspire and sustain the next generation of emerging artists; organizers hope to raise about $30,000.

“With this money, we hope to pay off debts,” Drucker said, laughing. “Actually, the money will go to the scholarship and curricular support programs.”

The art department guides students in exploring studio practice by emphasizing autonomy, experimentation, communal discourse and artistic responsibility.

“This event acknowledges the students and the faculty, and the quality of the work that goes on here,” Drucker said.

“Luck of the Draw(ing)” is an original and fresh melding of fund-raiser, art auction and art fair. With the purchase of a ticket, patrons get the chance to acquire a piece of art by an established art-world figure, as well as obtaining work by the next generation of talent.

About 30 artists have come together to donate about 180 pieces for the raffle, or “drawing.”

Among the artists who have donated their work are UCLA faculty members, UCLA art department alumni including Amy Adler, Karl Haendel and Paul Sietsema, friends of the department and current graduate and undergraduate students.

Along with possibly building a significant art collection for a relatively modest investment, attendees will also enjoy food and music in an unpretentious, urban atmosphere.

The refreshments include Pink’s famous hot dogs, Chabalita’s tacos, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, soft drinks and a full bar, while Los Super Elegantes will perform live music.

“Because this is our inaugural fund-raiser, we wanted to make the tickets less expensive and the event more inclusive,” Drucker said. “It’s a party, it’s a fund-raiser, it basically tells the community how fabulous we are and shows them that we also need support.”

The event also provides an opportunity for the public to meet promising young artists and a renowned art faculty of international reputation.

“The patrons of the arts will be mixing with the artists and the students,” Drucker said.

With the logistics aside, the event promises to be entertaining, welcoming and rewarding, hopefully in more ways than one.

“The atmosphere will be a funky, fun, grassroots, informal, positive event,” said Drucker.

“Support the art department, support the arts, and maybe go home with a really great piece of artwork for $75 that you can’t get out in the real world.”