AWARDS

Be one of this year's Drawing Inspirations!

Select a theme – your own or one of our suggested themes – and identify your target audience. Simply submitting documentation of your event using the Drawing Inspiration Awards application form may win your organisation one of 21 awards and a starring role in next year's Drawing Inspiration book.

The NADFAS Award

The National Association of Decorative & Fine Arts Societies will consider effective organisation, originality, audience profile and numbers in awarding £1,500 to the best event in a gallery or museum, which engages young people (14-25) creatively with its collection. Be part of the NADFAS 40th Anniversary celebrations!

Arts Award Prize

This new £500 prize is for the Arts Award Centre which most effectively supports the young person or people planning and leading a successful Big Draw event. This can take place in a school, gallery, museum, library or other community space as part of their Silver or Gold Arts Award leadership work. Visit www.artsaward.org.uk for more information.

Shape the Future Awards

To support this year's shape the future theme, The Royal Academy of Engineering is providing a total of six awards. There will be two top prizes of £750 available for one school and one non-school (general category) organiser. Similarly there will be two Runner Up awards of £150 and two Highly Commended awards of £50, one in each category available for a school and a non-school (general category) organiser. To qualify for these awards your Big Draw event must have a strong emphasis on engineering and designing for sustainability.

The Campaign for Drawing Awards

In the General Category, £750 will be awarded to each of 3 winners, who will also receive a £200 gift certificate to spend on Derwent Pencil products, £150 to four runners up, who will also receive a £150 gift certificate to spend on Derwent Pencil products and £50 to six highly commended organisers. Our new honorary Trailblazer Award recognises national organisations which break new ground with their events. No matter how big or small your organisation is consider our judging criteria and remember to document your event as thoroughly as possible.

Judging Criteria:

  • Innovation – new approaches to drawing and audience engagement.
  • Making the most of available resources – outstanding projects produced imaginatively on a shoestring.
  • Challenging the audience – stretching the audience's perceptions of drawing.
  • Context – overall themes and activities should relate to the venue's collection, local community or environment. Is there a wider purpose to the drawing activities on offer?
  • Outcomes – how successful is the end product; do individual drawings result in a communal artwork or a celebratory display, web page or publication?
  • Evidence of good marketing – promotional materials, press releases, local/national press coverage.
  • The Big Draw logo must be used on all marketing materials; failure to do so disqualifies your organisation for an award.