A unique art and design event that brought together more than 300 notable illustrators, musicians, and art and music fans has raised more than $22,000 for the MS Society of Canada Scholarship Program.

Cut to the Drummer, held Feb. 5 at Toronto’s hip Steam Whistle Brewery venue, featured 50 original paintings of drummers, by 50 artists. Some of the drummers, including Archie Alleyne with a jazz trio and Jeremy Taggart of Our Lady Peace, also performed.

Many of the artists are well-known Canadian and American illustrators. The event was organized by The Bepo + Mimi Project, led by famed Toronto-based illustrator Sandra Dionisi.

The art auction saw some intense bidding for the 50 paintings, and resulted in 29 of the portraits being sold. The art exhibition will continue at Steam Whistle Brewing until the end of February, with the unsold pieces available for purchase. An online gallery for viewing available portraits is now active; click here. Design Edge Canada is one of Cut to the Drummer’s sponsors.

Dionisi launched the Bepo + Mimi Project in 2007 as an initiative to shift industry and public awareness to the inherent value of original artwork. Click here for more information.