The Big Draw Festival 2019 is well underway and as Big Draw co-creators across the globe unite in their passion for the pencil, we catch up with the people behind the hundreds of #DrawnToLife projects coming your way this October.
We are thrilled to have caught up with the team from University of Hertfordshire to find out all about their Big Draw plans, and the power of drawing and visual literacy...
[Banner images: Katie Schwab and George Eksts]
Thanks so much for talking to us today. Could you start by telling our readers a little bit about the University of Hertfordshire and UHArts’ arts and culture programme?
We aim to share the best visual arts, live arts, music and design across our University sites, Hatfield and St Albans (through our partnership with St Albans Museum + Gallery). Collaborating with artists and performers, we commission and present ambitious work that engages people as audiences, participants and co-producers.
Our programme happens throughout the year and is open to all who are interested in arts and culture, whether you are an arts enthusiast or trying something new.
[UHArts, Art & Design Gallery. Photography by Rob Harris]
One of the main components of our work here at the Big Draw is promoting the influence of ‘visual literacy’. We believe that it underpins not only the visual arts, but all subjects and professions from Science to Engineering. Can you share your views on the benefits of a visual eye in day-to-day life?
I remember a conversation with a secondary school arts teacher, one of their pupils wanted to be a vet and do photography at A Level. She was discouraged but did it anyway. At interview for her veterinary degree, they said it was good she did it as vets need a visual knowledge; especially when operating you need to be able to identify what you are looking at!
More generally, our cross disciplinary events (such as a recent panel discussion on Colour) demonstrated that even in abstract areas in physics, people doodle and draw ideas as a way of thinking – and then represent results visually in a variety of ways such as graphs and diagrams.
We are bombarded with images such as social media and statistics – visual literacy helps us understand and analyse these constructed images and the meaning behind them. More generally – being able to do a rough drawing helps us work through ideas – whether to decorate your room, or design a new item of clothing or communicate ideas with someone else.
What role do you think that Universities should be playing in the access to arts and creative learning? Why do you think the next generation of makers and creators are so important?
We know that the creative industries contribute massively to the UK economy (£101.5bn 2017 according to Creative Industries). By investing in the next generation of makers and creators, we encourage continued high standards, research and innovation in the creative sector to be able to compete on a global scale. As with most degrees, they also provide many transferable skills into other jobs and industries. Even if you don’t go into the arts as a career, you can enjoy it as a participant and an audience member.
[Andrea V Wright, Vertical Ascension, 2016, mixed media]
We believe that drawing is a medium for thought and action. It is a fantastic tool for communication, creativity and expression! What role does drawing play in your life and your work at the University of Hertfordshire?
At UHArts, we draw to work out exhibition layouts, and communicate ideas with other members of the team. We also have a drawing exhibition coming up – Line/Extended – and have drawings as part of our permanent Art Collection. At the School of Creative Arts at University of Hertfordshire, drawing is present across varied courses such as Illustration, Animation, Fine Art, Architecture and more.
I am an artist and draw in my practice to work through ideas and explore possibilities, as well as for an end in itself.
This year’s Festival theme, ‘Drawn to Life’, focuses on the vital role of creativity for our health and wellbeing. As ‘social prescribing’ gains greater recognition as an effective tool for living a healthier and happier life, we believe it is now more important than ever to create opportunities for accessible, fun, creative events within our communities. How does this theme resonate with your work at the University of Hertfordshire? Moreover, what role will ‘Drawn to Life’ play in your Big Draw events this year?
At University of Hertfordshire we work with our colleagues in Wellbeing to widen or offer – for example we run a guided Sculpture Walk on the first Thursday of the month at 1pm. They are free and run throughout the year. This is a great way to have a short break from work or study, and the computer, and get outside and see the campus and the artworks from different perspectives.
We offer a range of events that are open to all, such as our visual arts events during October and the exhibition Line/Extended. We have a Private View on 17 October, a workshop with artist Andrea V Wright on Thursday 31 October and a panel discussion on Thursday 28 November.
Throughout the wider UHArts programme, we look to explore relevant themes, provide places for participation and engagement – recognising the importance of the arts as part of a rich life experience.
[Jane Grisewood, Blind Lines, 2014, performance]
Could you tell us a little about what’s in store for this year’s Big Draw Festival at the University of Hertfordshire?
We kicked off October with Katie Schwab taking over our Art & Design Gallery as part of the Artist Intervention Week. People could drop by the gallery to see her work or come to one of her free workshops. Katie explored methods of stitching, dyeing and painting with natural and re-used materials. All of which can be applied to drawing practice.
Our next exhibition is Line/Extended, which brings together five artists whose work explores the potential of the drawn line and the expanded field of drawing. What happens when surface and materials change – what does drawing become?
The exhibiting artists are Rosana Antolí, Lucy Brown, George Eksts, Jane Grisewood and Andrea V Wright. Their works span traditional drawings on paper through to performative and site-specific pieces made especially for this exhibition where they take their various lines for a walk around the three-dimensional space of the gallery. The opening event for the exhibition will include a participatory live “blind” drawing performance by Jane Grisewood.
Our events during the Line/Extended exhibition are free and open to all. We have a Private View on 17 October, a workshop with artist Andrea V Wright on Thursday 31 October and a panel discussion on Thursday 28 November. Please book via our website: www.uharts.co.uk
What motivated the University of Hertfordshire to take part in The Big Draw Festival? Are there any benefits in taking part in the Festival that you think potentially interested organisers should know about?
We wanted to be part of something that celebrates drawing internationally. The benefits include being featured on the website and part of the promotion – but also hopefully a symbol that people recognise and feel they can be part of through our activities.
Thank you Elizabeth and the team at University of Hertfordshire!
University of Hertfordshire is one of our Big Draw Festival 2019 Sponsor Partners.
Have you been inspired by Elizabeth's interview and The Big Draw Festival 2019 theme: #DrawntoLife? Why not join our global Festival in 2019? Registration is now open! Find out more about the benefits of becoming an organiser here and other ways to support The Big Draw's mission here.
