The Big Draw Festival 2018: Play is officially in full swing!

As Festival co-creators across the globe work on the finishing touches for their Big Draw events, we catch up with the team at National Trust - Stourhead ahead of their first ever Big Draw Festival events on Saturday 6 October, to talk fantasy landscapes, the ‘painterly eye’ and the importance of play…

Image © National Trust / Hollie Fox

BD: This year, The Big Draw Festival is celebrating the power of Play in the creative process, as well as in all aspects of life. What is the significance of Play in a National Trust setting? Is it important to have a playful approach to exploring the outdoors, and exploring history?

NT: The National Trust strives to make special places relevant to the lives of every visitor, whether they’re 70 or 7. Some people feel moved when they learn something new, but for others NT places are special because they play here with their family. They come to laugh, to run, to be creative, to get grass stains on their jeans and dirt under their fingernails.

At Stourhead, we believe that the whole property is an adventure and a journey, and what are those if not playful? Whether the adventure is exploring history and heritage, arts and the collection, or exploring the garden the nature within it and of course hiding places.

When at play you are most open to possibility and discovery. 

BD: Here at the Big Draw, we believe that the notion of ‘art’ has no boundaries. On your website, it is stated that “When Stourhead first opened in the 1740’s a magazine described it as a ‘living work of art’ and it still remains so today”. What role, if any, do you believe that art plays in the preservation of British history and heritage?           

NT: The vision for Stourhead’s iconic landscape gardens was inspired by the works of European artists, discovered by Stourhead’s founders while they travelled across the continent. They were passionate patrons of artists of their day and we continue to build relationships with contemporary artists, like Anouk Mercier, today. The team at Stourhead believe that art has a vital role to play engaging modern audiences in the heritage sector.

In particular, contemporary art prompts us to look differently and ask questions of the world around us, including the idyllic vistas of a landscape like Stourhead. If we’re asking questions and looking twice, we’re more likely to learn or feel inspired.

Image © National Trust / Simon Newman

BD: We believe that drawing can be life changing; it's an amazing tool for communication, creativity and expression. What role does drawing play in the day to day goings-on at Stourhead? Do you see people being inspired to take pencil to paper by the beautiful world-famous landscape garden and Palladian family home on a regular basis?

NT: Stourhead is an inspirational place for all who visit. Many families return time and time again and children who visited return with their own children. It is a place where all the aspects of life are celebrated, birthdays, weddings, and memories which have been created and nurtured within the estate. Visitors capture Stourhead in many different ways, through the camera, putting pencil to paper, even so far as wanting to re-create our Christmas decorations in their own homes.

As the drama of seasonal change is played out across the Stourhead landscape, a quick walk around the lake reveals painters, sketchers and photographers capturing the scene through their own unique processes. 

The collection in the house reveals that Stourhead has inspired artists, like Turner, for centuries, while a trip to First View Gallery in Stourton village shows that it continues to inspire all sorts of artists today. 

Image © National Trust / Simon Newman

BD: There are some exciting developments on the horizon for The National Trust. You have recently appointed a new Director General, who intends to make the properties more relevant to a younger audience. How might you go about doing this, and why do you think this is important?

NT: We fully support our Director General’s plans to engage younger audiences. At Stourhead, this means looking for ways to engage our younger visitors with the works of our contemporary artists on an annual basis, for example making fantasy landscape collages in the style of Anouk Mercier this past summer. 

We’re also looking for ways to talk to young visitors about the meaning of the ‘painterly eye’. The painterly eye, a key design principle behind the creation of Stourhead, empowered garden owners to design landscapes by eye, like a painter, rather than using the tools of a surveyor.

BD: Stourhead’s Big Draw event is taking place on Saturday 6^th October, the day promises a wealth of fun, crafty activities for everyone and anyone to enjoy! Can you tell us a little more about what people can expect from this year’s event, and why they should get involved?

NT: We have art activities taking place all over the property, from still life in the Picture Gallery to biscuit decorating in the restaurant and photography workshops to a community canvas. With over 10 different activities taking place around the house and garden as well as seven professional artists at work in the garden, including our artist in residence, Anouk Mercier, there is plenty of fun activities for visitors to have a go at. 

Image © National Trust / Hollie Fox

BD: What is it about The Big Draw Festival that inspires Stourhead to take part? Is there any advice that you would give to someone thinking of organising their own Big Draw event?

NT: Do it! We wanted to take part this year as it is a great way to offer our local community and visitors a new and different way to experience Stourhead. We’re really excited to host our first event, and are looking forward to taking part again in the future. 

Thank you to the team at Stourhead National Trust!

Interview by: Matilda Barratt

National Trust -Stourhead are Big Draw Festival 2018 Sponsor Partners.

Take part in their fantastic, #Play2018 Big Draw Festival events on Saturday 6 October!  Click here for more information.

Interested in visiting a Big Draw Festival event near you this Autumn? Take a look at our Big Draw 2018 events map here, sign up to our localised event alerts here or perhaps you’d like to join our merry band of Big Draw Festival co-creators and organise your very our events?

Visit our Organise an Event page for guidance on getting started.