The Big Draw Festival 2018: Play is on the horizon, and as organisers all over the globe prepare their events for your drawing pleasure, we chat to the artists, architects, designers, scientists, educators and Big Draw Co-creators from all over the globe - giving the possibilities of drawing a new lease life this autumn as part of their Big Draw Festival events.

We are thrilled to be catching up with ambitious Big Draw Festival Nijmegen organiser and Big Draw Festival Award Winner, Anita Waltman, for her tips on putting on a show stopping Big Draw and to find out a little more about beautiful Nijmegen.

BD: Hi Anita! Thank you for your time, we know how busy you must be getting ready for the launch party of The Big Draw Festival Nijmegen 2018 which takes place 6-9 September 2018 across Nijmegen, The Netherlands (with your programme on 6 and 7 September created especially for schools) and the weekend: 8 and 9 September for all!

You have been organising ambitious Big Draw Festival events in Nijmegen for over 5 years now, (even scooping a Big Draw Festival Award for your incredible efforts in 2016). How have your events changed over the years and how do you keep things fresh in your programming?

AW: The basics remain the same. We plan our events very collaboratively; working together with the cultural partners and entrepreneurs in Nijmegen, and of course we work closely with professional artists utilising their wide skill sets to help us deliver our Big Draw Festival events and breathe fresh life into the program year on year. Some of our artists have been working with us for years now and every year we find new artists who really shake things up with their ideas for The Big Draw – they remind us that the possibilities of drawing are boundless!

What has changed is the time frame of the festival, rather than having a week or 2 weeks of activity we concentrate our celebrations into one weekend with a big build up and lots of activity all over the city in these 2 days.

BD: Would you say Nijmegen is a particularly ‘arty’ place? Does it attract a cultural crowd? Or is your annual The Big Draw Festival showstopper an anomaly for the City?

AW: In general Nijmegen is indeed an arty place with some cultural festivals, however The Big Draw Nijmegen as a ‘visual art festival for all’ is one of the cultural highlights!

BD: Why is drawing important to you? How do you use it in your daily life and work?

AW: Outside of ‘formal’ drawing, I doodle all the time; when I’m on the phone, at work, planning our Big Draw! I guess it helps me order my thoughts and plan, drawing gives me a kind of ‘birds eye view’.

BD: This year, The Big Draw Festival is all about play, embracing happy accidents, experimenting, having fun and most importantly, having a go! How will The Big Draw Nijmegen be embracing the PLAY spirit this year?

AW: I think that the PLAY spirit is always in our Big Draw Nijmegen event, fun is an important factor. Every year we experiment with new techniques and creative innovations. The Big Draw is a great way for kids and adults alike to try their hand at something new, take risks, and who knows, they might even discover they have a real knack for something creative. Whether it be printing, animation, cartooning… I love the thought that someone tries their hand at something at The Big Draw and continues to grow the skill after at home or even decides to pursue it professionally!

BD: Nijmegen has been elected European Green Capital 2018! (congratulations!) the first Dutch city to be named so. What considerations have you taken to account to keep your events as green as possible for The Big Draw this year and what advice would you give to Big Draw Organisers to create a Big Green Draw?

AW: We decided that in 2018 we would organise the Greenest Big Draw ever. We are looking for ways to draw with environmentally friendly materials, we draw a lot in green environments – taking in and appreciating the world around. The theme we draw about is also green, we have a symposium where we talk about ‘art & environment’. Being ‘green’ is not only about environment but also on a social level. This year we have a big project in nursing homes, to encourage the social and health benefits of art & drawing into the lives of nursing and care home residents.

*The Big Draw recommends: Take a look at Program Hertogstraat: Vijftig Tinten Groen ( Fifty Shades of Green) taking place on Sat 8 September with artists Inge Leuverink, Els Jacobs and Charlotte Ankone.

BD: We’ve also found out that Nijmegen is Holland’s oldest city, do you ever utilise your Big Draw events / drawing to help visitors explore your city’s exciting historical architecture and heritage?

AW: On the Saturday of the Big Draw weekend there is always the National Monuments Day. Every year we work together with Huis van de Nijmeegse Geschiedenis (The House of History Nijmegen) for a drawing program that fits the historical theme of that year.

BD: What reasons would you give tourists to visit Nijmegen? More importantly why should they come during your Big Draw Festival events on the weekend of 8/9 September!

AW: Besides being the oldest city of The Netherlands, Nijmegen has a lot to offer to everybody. There is always something going on. As well as a very local crowd, we always welcome visitors from all over the world to come and explore and draw the delights of Nijmegen on 8 & 9 September, our Big Draw program has something for everybody from high tech VR drawing to a combination of performative drawing with theatre and dance.

*The Big Draw recommends: Take a look at the events presented by De Koppoters’ (pictured left and right above) on Sat 8 Sept > an immersive drawn world that will unleash your imagination and really communicates the boundless possibilities of drawing!

*The Big Draw recommends: Events on Sunday 9 Sept at the fascinating Honigcomplex building has something for everybody, but is probably better suited to teens and adults with drawn beermats, bands, chocolate art, VR experiences and dynamic drawing and dance.

BD: What advice would you give to anyone hoping to become a Big Draw Festival Organiser?

AW: PLAN! There is much to consider if you really want your Big Draw to have a big impact. Work with local partners to ensure you create a buzz around your events and make sure you utilise all the free marketing tools at your disposal – your marketing toolkit from The Big Draw, festival branding and social media.

BD: What advice would you give to someone who thinks they can’t draw? How could your events help change their mind…?

AW: Like The Big Draw team, we firmly believe everybody can draw. Most people don’t have the opportunity to take a few minutes to try their hand at drawing or creating, The Big Draw Festival provides a perfect opportunity, the atmosphere is relaxed, fun and there’s a real ‘have a go’ mentality – best of all almost everything is free and we supply the materials.

Our events welcome people to try your hand at a whole host of different techniques and the events are designed to be fun and welcoming. There really is something for everybody and you just don’t know until you try, so hopefully we’ll see you in a couple of weeks in Nijmegen!

BD: THANK YOU ANITA!

The Big Draw Nijmegen are Big Draw Festival 2018 Sponsor Partners.

Take part in The Big Draw Festival in Nijmegen 8-9 September 2018! Peruse The Big Draw Festival 2018 Programme across Nijmegen here.

Interested in visiting a Big Draw Festival event near you this Autumn? Take a look at our Big Draw 2018 events map 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 here for guidance on getting started.