The Big Draw returns to Middlesex University, Hendon Campus from this October 26th. The week long programme will start with a weekend full of opportunities for all the family. 

Following on from the successes of previous year’s Big Draw Week, this year promises to be truly special. Creative and educational fun for all will be on offer, as the theme for the week’s programme is ‘World War One’ to celebrate the historic centenary. Students, Staff, Family and Friends are all invited to contribute to some of our WWI drawing projects all week from Sunday October 26th until Friday October 31st.

The Big Draw is a national campaign running every October. Throughout the month all kinds of venues host events, from national institutions like the British Museum and Windsor castle to village halls and local parks. This is an inclusive event; pre-schoolers, graduates to pensioners are all encouraged to make their mark. There are thousands of events all striving to show that drawing can be a collaborative, passionate and positive influence in our lives. The Big Draw encourages people from all walks of life to get together in creative activities, engaging people of all ages in creating, collaborating and drawing.  This year the Big Draw week will be held during the last week of October, and to mark the centenary of WWI, the theme of the campaign at Middlesex University will be 'War'.

The campaign, which has been gaining momentum since 2000, is backed by high-profile doodlers from British national treasure Quentin Blake, beloved illustrator of the Roald Dahl books to BBC Political broadcaster Andrew Marr. Check out their thoughts here. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEIiUs7eg7c ). 

The drive to empower doodlers and artisans alike is being spearheaded by Andrew Pomphrey and a team of talented staff, students and volunteers from Middlesex’ Art & Design, Dance, Music and Media departments. With events staged in many different locations around the campus and London, each year the campaign has brought a different flavour to each community where it has been organised, and Middlesex University's programme this year is no different.

Events get going on Saturday 18th October with a stroll down the historic Cody Docks. Recently regenerated, the area is well known as a picturesque part of East London, on river lea, London's second river, with a vibrant artistic scene. This promises to be a day of enjoyment for people of any age, so come on down and bring your family and friends, as Middlesex University invites you to Cody Docks to draw the majestic creatures of Michaels Mobile Menagerie.

http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/Animal_Draw/4264

Sunday 26^th October will find us all back on Hendon Campus at the Grove building. This is where the Middlesex University Big Draw program really gets going. Between 11-4pm, families and friends are invited to try out some of our big draw activities. http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/Weekend_Family_Draw_(WW1_Theme)/4270

On Monday, a weeklong competition will lead the charge in helping transform the Grove, Atrium. Easels, paper and materials will be littered around the Atrium, as will a 1/4 scale replica of a SE5 plane, on a revolving turn-table. 

Contribute to some of our WWI drawing in fun and alternative ways than just traditional drawing, there will be stop-motion animation to accompany a poem by Wilfred Owen. The Atrium will also feature an installation entitled “Fallen”; at the centre of which will be a large evocative tree, created by the Product Design department. People are invited to come draw portraits that are then cut into leaf shapes to represent the fallen people affected by War, this installation will form an impressive imposing feature in our light, open Atrium. There will also be an opportunity to see your work in print, as you are invited to draw a section of our collaborative wartime comic, which will be digitised and sent to out to contributors when finished.  

http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/Exploring_the_First_World_War/4272

Following last year’s successful Big Draw week, there will be a return of the two big one-off events, the Big Jam and live-animals returning to be drawn up-close in the Grove building. 

The Big Jam will again transform the Atrium on Thursday 30th October in the evening from 6pm. Attendees are invited to participate in mass-scale drawing projects as music inspired by music hall, jazz and other genres of music filters throughout the Atrium. There will also be a theatrical and dance productions to entertain everyone throughout the evening, featuring large scale puppets and masks inspired by the works of Otto Dix and George Grosz. http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/The_Big_Jam_-_WW1/4273

Friday 31st October takes a departure from the War theme, as creepy Halloween animals will crawl into the Atrium, to be drawn live by everyone. A fun and enjoyable time will be had all thanks to Michael’s Mobile Menagerie who will be providing all manner of creatures, as an apt way to celebrate Halloween.

 http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/Halloween_Animal_Draw/4274

If you like the sound of any of this year’s Big Draw Week at Middlesex University, do find out more here: ( http://www.thebigdraw.org/event/Exploring_the_First_World_War/4272  ) and come down and join in the fun!