#BDFAwards #TheBigDraw #LivingLines17

The Big Draw is thrilled to announce the winners of the international Big Draw Festival Awards 2017/18. The Big Draw Award winners have been selected by a distinguished jury from a shortlist of projects that took place as part of Big Draw Festival 2017 celebrating ‘Living Lines’. Every year, The Big Draw Festival Awards celebrate drawing and creativity without borders.

Organisers, including schools, libraries, museums, artists, local councils and community centres thrilled our panel of judges and The Big Draw team by abandoning any conventions of animation that the 'Living Lines' theme might suggest by giving Big Draw Festival visitors free opportunities to try their hand at life size Zoetropes, community-wide stop frame animations, naked neon life drawing sessions, drawing dance workshops, animated family trees and everything in between.

The ingenuity of organisers’ events demystified the world of moving image, opening doors to the potential of drawing and animation for hundreds of thousands of participants worldwide and wowed this year’s panel of judges.

More importantly than ever, with the continued decline of arts provision for all in education, The Big Draw commends all schools who demonstrate the power of drawing and creativity, not only across the curriculum, but within their communities. The staff and students of our 3 school winners this year are leading lights to show the importance and impact of a creative education.

For the first year, alongside 8 panel selected awards, The Big Draw opened up one prize: The People’s Choice Award, to a public vote. With a startling consensus with our judges, 7 of our panel selected winners also received nominations from visitors. From over 250 nominations received, with a massive 20% of the public vote, the inaugural People’s Choice Award winner is The Drawing Circus, Brighton (UK). Take a look at our People's Choice Award page for all projects to receive a nomination for their Big Draw Festival events in 2017 and how to vote for your favourite in 2018!

From applications received from all over the world, The Big Draw would like to thank everyone who applied for the awards and took part in The Big Draw Festival 2017. It was a truly dynamic year. Without further ado...

The Winners of The Big Draw Festival Awards 2017: Living Lines are:

Community Participatory & Libraries Award: Tamworth Arts & Events (Tamworth, UK) – Award supported by The Arts Society.

Museums & Galleries Award: Royal British Society of Sculptors (London, UK) – Award supported by Fabriano. 

Guest Panellists' Choice Award: Claire Davenhall, visual artist (Rockingham, Australia) – Award supported by Simon’s Group.

Art Clubs & Societies Award: Young Animators Club (Hythe, UK) – Award supported by Cass Art.

"Young Animators Club are delighted to win this Big Draw award. We know that opportunities to create, make & share ideas can change lives and this Big Draw Festival provides and a fantastic platform for us to celebrate this. To see young people glow with pride is always satisfying but the Big Draw gives us extra support and backing which allows us to reach those who need these experiences the most. This playful and energetic initiative lets us run free and experiment without the need to justify or label what we are doing. Drawing is a great leveller of people, and in these workshops, we are all equal and can find new and exciting ways to communicate with each other". Lydia Hibbert, Director Young Animators Club.

Founder's Choice Award: Redlees Studios (Isleworth, UK)

Secondary School Award: Riverside International School (Prague, Czech Republic)

Primary School Award (1/2): Criftin’s C of E Primary School (Ellesmere, UK)

Primary School Award (2/2): Stanley Grove Primary Academy (Manchester, UK)

People's Choice Award Winner: The Drawing Circus (Brighton, UK) – Award supported by Marmalade on Toast.

Director’s Special Commendation: Education Department, HMP Lewes (UK).

Claire Davenhall, artist and winner of The Guest Panellists' Choice Award commented:

“Winning the Guest Panellists’ Choice Award Big Draw Award is testament that drawing does change lives. We wanted to go bigger and better with The Big Draw Festival ‘Living lines’ with the City of Rockingham, Australia in 2017. To capture wider community engagement, we expanded our program to fit into the School Holidays and engaged award-winning passionate artists to run age appropriate workshops at multiple venues that accumulated into a final exhibition to celebrate their success.

The Big Draw fills a gap in our community; I’m always surprised to hear from many of our participants, it’s the only source of art education delivered by art specialists they have access to and you never know who you might inspire and the journey it will take the on." I'll be looking forward to my next Journey... The City of Kalamunda have just confirmed will be hosting the Big Draw Play in 2018!

Mrs Hardwick of Criftins C of E Primary School, joint winners of The Primary School Award comments:

"As a small school, we never expected to win, this is an amazing achievement for us. We work hard to provide a creative curriculum all day everyday for our pupils, The Big Draw has helped to inspire our pupils on a whole new level and give the arts the profile it deserves. Thank you Big Draw!' 

Kate Mason, Director, The Big Draw commented: 

“Every year, I’m delighted to see so many inspiring and committed entries and this year is no different. The range and sheer ingenuity of our wonderful event organisers never fails to impress. Their hard work, imagination and skill is what helps to bring the festival to life year on year, and helps to celebrate not only the joy in taking part but also the pivotal role they play, every day, in championing the value of creativity and arts education. Their work matters and makes a difference.

To our organisers, we salute you all and thank you for your on-going support and partnership. Thank you also to our wonderful and esteemed panel of Judges this year – we were very proud to have you all involved.”

Play your part in The Big Draw Festival 2018: Play!

Could it be you picking up a Big Draw Festival Award in 2018*? This year we are celebrating the role of PLAY in creativity.  Find out more about the benefits of organising your own event here, ready to go? Registration for The Big Draw Festival 2018 is now open!

*Only registered organisers are eligible for both the panel selected and People's Choice Big Draw Festival Awards.