On Monday evening, friends gathered for a party in honour of Sue Grayson Ford, our founder, who after 16 years at the charity's helm has handed over the reins to the Kate Mason so she can begin a new career sharing her passion of the arts.
Of course, there were sandwiches...
John Burton of Trinity Buoy Wharf gave a wonderful tour of London’s only lighthouse and talked about the area’s history, including the present day and how all creative industries based there, The Big Draw included, have contributed to creating a buoyant, creative community keeping a beautiful and historic site alive.
In accompaniment to sandwiches, there was of course… drawing!
And speeches….
Left to right
Clive Wilmer (current Master, Guild of St. George): ‘It has been the most fantastic institution, The Campaign for Drawing (now The BIg Draw). It has changed everything...it has altered the culture, altered the way we think about things like drawing. The actual activity of using your hands and your eyes to put something on paper is a fundamental feature of civilisation and something we were in danger of losing. The Campaign for Drawing has reinstigated that. ’
Julian Spalding (former Master, Guild of St. George): ‘An amazing figure, and amazing contribution to art...an extraordinary energy and vision for people and art.’
Sue Grayson Ford MBE: 'The work of The Big Draw has never been more essential than now given the increasing threats to arts subjects within a scientifically-biased national curriculum. I could not have hoped for a successor – better equipped by both exemplary experience and powerful commitment than Kate Mason – to lead the battle to demonstrate that children and adults need drawing and visual literacy to meet the current and future demands of our society.'
Andrew Silverman (Trustee, The Big Draw): ‘Through your incredible strength, energy and purpose...you’ve created something huge and philosophically, it matters. Fostering drawing and expression is so important for people to find a way to express themselves, that’s a huge thing to do.’
Friends and patrons attended to give a fond farewell, such as Bob and Roberta Smith, pictured here with other guests, who has contributed a huge amount in his time as patron.
Taking the helm as Director is Kate Mason, who revealed her steam powered agenda with the ennouncement of the theme for The Big Draw Festival in October.
Kate has secured Arts Council England funding and become a catalyst for a culture change informed by long-term strategic goals. In addition, she has enlisted support from new trustees and ambassadors and relocated the charity’s office base to Trinity Buoy Wharf in East London – the Docklands' quarter for the arts and creative industries.
“Reading and writing are key and help shape us – but it is drawing which helps us see and explore. There are many languages but only drawing is truly universal. I am looking forward to working with a fantastic team of staff and trustees to help spread the word that drawing changes lives!”
Our great loss is your gain, English Heritage, as The Big Draw bids a fond farewell to our founder & true legend Sue Grayson Ford MBE, who is coming to train with you as a Blue Badge Guide.
Sue Grayson Ford founded the Campaign for Drawing - now The Big Draw - in 2000 on behalf of the Guild of St. George, a small charity who celebrates Ruskin’s legacy. Having developed the campaign and festival over sixteen years, Sue and The Big Draw have encouraged over three million people back to the drawing board and notched up two world records! One for the longest drawing in the world (one kilometre) and the greatest number of people drawing simultaneously (over 7000).
Not only did we say adieu! But also a very happy birthday to Sue (you kept that quiet).
Legends come in many forms, you, Sue, happen to be ours. Love, The Big Draw Team x
