The Big Draw Lights Up Inspire Libraries

Nottinghamshire libraries are set to STEAM ahead with a series of art exhibitions as part of the The Big Draw Festival, an annual international celebration. This year’s STEAM powered Big Draw is the first delivered by Inspire which was set up earlier this year to deliver culture, learning and libraries across Nottinghamshire.  

Every year, thousands of enjoyable drawing activities connect people of all ages with places, artists, designers, illustrators, and each other to celebrate the universal language of drawing.  This year’s theme brought together Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths!

Over 1500 people of all ages across the county have worked with artists and Inspire to explore technology with creativity. Using conductive drawing materials, they have created beautiful drawings, added an electric circuit and turned art into science.  

All the work has been curated into a wonderful light up exhibition that will tour Library Galleries from 15 November starting in Worksop.

Featuring artists drop-in workshops, a celebration of the talent of the county. The exhibition will feature drawing from all the workshops including Libraries and Schools and a short film about the project made by local film makers.

Schools attending– Everton Primary and Mattersey Primary

Inspire secured an Arts Council Grant for the Arts to extend the workshops to smaller libraries and to work with schools to run Big Draw workshops and add more amazing artworks to the exhibition.

Councillor Alan Rhodes, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This year’s Big Draw Festival exhibition gives everyone the chance to see first-hand the fantastic, creative and fun work on display this year once again. It will be a real treat for visitors to have the chance to see this exhibition at Library galleries across the county.”

Councillor John Knight, Chairman of the Culture Committee, at Nottinghamshire County Council said:  “This is a great opportunity for Inspire to bring this unique and exciting festival to the people of Nottinghamshire – and we are really proud that additional funding was secured to work directly with schools and demonstrate the value of drawing in the classroom.”