our judges on the big draw awards 2015:

Caroline Marcus has over 20 years experience as an independent consultant in museum and gallery learning, access and engagement. As Director of Caroline Marcus Associates, she manages a portfolio of projects. She runs Kids in Museums Takeover Day, curates the National Gallery’s Take One Picture display; is a visiting lecturer and former module leader for the MA: Museums and Galleries in Education, Institute of Education, University of London; is a Trustee of the National Motor Museum and a Judge for the Sandford Awards.

Henry Ward is an artist, writer and educator. He worked within the state school system as a Director of Art and Deputy Head teacher and was Head of Education at Southbank Centre. He is interested in teaching as a form of artistic practice and has written and lectured widely on this area.

Sally Manser has been Head of Royal Opera House Bridge (the Bridge covering Essex, Herts, Beds and North Kent) since February 2012. Before joining the Royal Opera House she ran her own consultancy operating at the interface between the cultural and education sector, seeking sustainable solutions to increasing levels of engagement with cultural learning in urban areas. She has held a number of cross phase, strategic local authority roles, notably nine years as Arts Inspector for Tower Hamlets, six years as Director of ‘Creating Success’ Education Action Zone in Lewisham and more recently a period at QCDA as Primary Curriculum Development Advisor for London.

Ian Thompson currently works within University of the Arts London's Widening Participation area where he leads programmes of work that bring young people from schools and FE colleges together with UAL students and academics. Drawing is central to these programmes. Prior to this he led the Young Design Programme for the Sorrell Foundation and was a curriculum leader on the Central Saint Martins Foundation Studies Programme.

“It’s been a delight to explore the range of exciting projects where drawing sits at the heart. The Big Draw Awards demonstrate that creativity is thriving in communities across the UK and beyond and the positive impact that drawing can have on the wellbeing of people of all ages”. Caroline Marcus

“Being a judge was a tremendously rewarding experience. To see such an incredible range of projects, covering so many interpretations of drawing, was inspirational. The Big Draw is vital in encouraging people all over the world to engage with drawing and visual arts”.  Henry Ward

Sally has enjoyed engaging with the Big Draw at various stages of her career and was thrilled with the standard of this year's award entries. 

"The Big Draw is a simple but sustainable initiative that just keeps on giving". Sally Manser

“The breadth and quality of submissions for this year’s Drawing Inspiration Awards are testaments to the power of drawing to get people of all ages involved in a huge range of visual arts activities.  There were drawings about what people loved and were interested in. Drawing had been used to explore new ideas and ways of working. Large groups had crafted materials such as leaves, tape and chalk to create drawings on an architectural scale, while at the other extreme microscopes had been deployed to allow drawing from objects that were invisible to the naked eye”. Ian Thompson