The Big Draw

Categories:: Arts & Entertainment
Tags:: Activities Educational
Where:: United Kingdom
Date change rule:: Every October
Holiday emoji:: 🎨

The Big Draw inspires creativity and visual literacy every October, transforming the month into the world’s largest drawing festival. This annual event encourages everyone, regardless of skill, to pick up a pencil and express themselves. Join local events, register for an activity pack, and share your unique artwork online.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Brands
Hero
History
Timeline
Businesses
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate

Expected The Big Draw Deals

Throughout October, The Big Draw inspires a surge in art-related activities and promotions. While specific 2027 deals are yet to be announced, look for art supply retailers like Blick Art Materials and Cass Art to offer discounts on drawing essentials. Online platforms such as Skillshare and Domestika may feature special bundles on drawing courses. Local art studios and galleries, including The Tate Modern and The National Gallery, often host free workshops or reduced-price entry to drawing-focused exhibitions. Keep an eye on independent art shops and community centers for unique local initiatives. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October approaches.

Platform Guide for The Big Draw

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #TheBigDraw. Share your drawings, event photos, and creative process with a visual community.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #TheBigDraw. Connect with local drawing groups and share event details.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #TheBigDraw. Follow updates from the festival, share quick sketches, and engage in art discussions.

The Big Draw Hero

Sue Grayson Ford

Sue Grayson Ford is a key figure in the founding of The Big Draw. As the Director of The Campaign for Drawing, she played an instrumental role in establishing the festival in 2000. Her vision helped create a global movement that champions visual literacy and encourages people of all ages to engage with drawing as a fundamental tool for learning, expression, and creativity, transforming how art education is perceived worldwide.

History of The Big Draw

Visual literacy is the ability to read, write, and communicate using images rather than words. It also assists us in comprehending, interpreting, and analyzing what we see with our two eyes all the time. The Campaign for Drawing in the U.K. founded The Big Draw in 2000. Its goal was to promote visual literacy in people of all ages by using drawing as a tool for thought, creativity, and social and cultural engagement. It has grown into a global community-led movement involving people from over 25 countries who are passionate about drawing since its inception.

The festival first took place in London in 2001, with only one event taking place on a single day. Two events were held over four days in 2002, and it has since grown exponentially each year, with hundreds of events held across the U.K. as well as internationally. Since then, the festival has grown to include a diverse range of activities such as workshops, classes, and exhibitions.

The Big Draw has reached over two million people worldwide with its events and activities over the last seven years. This year, thousands of artists from all over the world will take part in this event. This holiday allows us to realize our passions for drawing and express our thoughts and emotions through visual art. Similarly, it helps us develop our visual skills. The best thing about this holiday is that it is not only for highly-skilled artists, but ordinary people can also join in and have fun.

The Big Draw timeline

1448 to 1491

The Early Days

Drawing emerges as an art-from with artists and renowned engravers such as Albrecht Dürer and Martin Schongauer making a name for themselves.

2000

The Big Draw is Founded

It is set up to promote visual literacy in all ages through drawing as an essential tool for thought, creativity, and social and cultural engagement.

2001

The First Festival

The first Big Draw festival is held in London with only one event being held over one day.

2002

The Festival Gains Popularity

Two events are held over four days, and it has grown exponentially each year, with hundreds of events held across the U.K. and internationally.

How Businesses Can Celebrate The Big Draw

Local businesses can embrace The Big Draw by hosting open drawing sessions or workshops in their spaces, collaborating with local artists, or offering discounts on art supplies throughout October. Cafes could provide drawing materials for customers, while bookstores might feature titles on art history and technique. Galleries and museums can organize special drawing tours or interactive installations, encouraging community participation and fostering a love for visual arts.

The Big Draw FAQs

When is The Big Draw?

The Big Draw runs throughout October 2026, from Thursday, October 1, to Saturday, October 31. This month-long festival encourages everyone to engage with drawing.

How many people participate in The Big Draw?

The Big Draw is the world’s largest drawing festival, engaging over 1 million people each year in more than 2,000 events across 25+ countries. It’s a truly global celebration of visual literacy.

What is visual literacy?

Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image. The Big Draw aims to enhance this skill, recognizing its importance in understanding our visually rich world.

How can I get involved in The Big Draw?

You can get involved by registering on the official website, signing up for a free event pack, and attending various activities held at galleries, libraries, and museums. Don’t forget to upload your artwork!

The Big Draw Activities

Attend an event
Attending a pre-organized event is the simplest way to get involved. Check out The Big Draw website for a calendar of events organized by location.
Participate in the exhibition
The exhibition challenges visitors to create drawings without the use of written or spoken words. The only requirement is to explain one’s drawing aloud after finishing it.
Organize a workshop
It's simple to plan your own drawing activity with friends, family, or members of your local community. If you have any drawing supplies, you can set up a table and invite people to come to draw for an hour.

5 Surprising Facts About Paint

Earliest oil painting
The earliest known oil paintings were Buddhist murals found in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan caves — they date back to the 7th Century A.D.
Paint dries quickest at 70 degrees
Paint will spread more smoothly and absorb faster at these temperatures than in the chilly cold or sweltering heat.
The most expensive color
The most expensive paint color was ultramarine, as it was made from ‘Lapis Lazuli’ which you might find in an ancient illuminated manuscript.
The spray paint invention
Davies Millet is credited with the invention of spray paint while working under tight deadlines to complete construction for the Chicago World’s Fair.
Restoration of Sistine Chapel
It took Michelangelo only four years to paint the famous ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the 1500s, but it took 20 years to restore it in the late 1900s.

Why We Love The Big Draw

It’s a great time to learn history
The Big Draw is a fantastic way for children and adults to create art while also learning about its history. Every year, over 1,500 museums and galleries from across England participate in this event.
It allows us to create a legacy
It allows us to create a legacy of drawings by individuals, families, communities, and schools from all around the world. We can keep the art alive by preserving our drawings and passing them down to future generations.
It brings people together
The activities of Big Draw bring people together. From creative organizations, communities, businesses, schools, and artists from different disciplines, everyone comes with a common goal.