New Directions for the Drawing Campaign

I've been on the Campaign for Drawing's mailing list for some time - and the link to their website is in the right hand column in the Drawing Resources section. They've written to me about their future plans for achieving greater recognition for the role of drawing and a wealth of activities associated with its annual Big Draw event. So I thought a quick update might be in order - as well as providing an introduction to anybody who missed the first post I did about the Campaign for Drawing.

In future, the Drawing Campaign is:

• becoming an independent educational charity - in order to help promote messages about the value of drawing and support learning about drawing.
• looking for partners to help it get the message across about the importance of drawing.
• publishing, in June, a comprehensive free resource pack for educators and teachers showing how drawing can connect people with the built and natural heritage all year round. This arises out of the "Drawing Attractions" Project which has been investigating ways in which drawing can unvcover the past and make sense of the present and look into the future.
• aiming to make the Big Draw, which launches on 24th September, an even more inclusive event by extending opportunities to new audience including adults and family groups.
• generating drawing events during October in group studios, galleries, community centres, schools and libraries.

If you're interested, you can find lots more information on its main website at www.drawingpower.org.uk

On the website, they have one section called "Why Draw?" which doesn't try to explain - it just has quotations from people who do. Here are some of those quotes. Have a quick read and see if they do for you what they did for me - which is made me think about the potential that exists to create inclusiveness in relation to drawing and the value that drawing can have in the lives of ordinary people of all ages.

"Drawing is of vital importance in creating imaginative forms of visual culture" Deanna Petherbridge (Professor of Drawing) 

"To young children, drawing is as natural an activity as running and playing but, as we grow and develop, in general we drop the drawing - why? It's sad that so many people lose this ability: for me, drawing has always been a natural form of expression" Gerald Scarfe (Cartoonist) 

"When I draw I retire into this inner person, and it's wonderful because it's very whole. It's a health-giving exercise" Robert Tear, opera singer 

"In pictures you can express things you can't say in words. It's fun, it's relaxing, it adds another dimension to life" Robbie Catterick, kitchen fitter 

"Engineering is all to do with logic and making things work. A bit of fantasy gives you a different perspective" Alex Driver, engineering student 

"Drawing keeps you sane, really. It's dancing on paper. That's what it is - just dancing on paper" Elaine Arkell, mature fine art student 

"When you get drawing, you're young again" Stan Foot, pensioner aged 80

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